Brazil - Hit Squads

Despite their reputation for tardiness and diffidence in daytime law enforcement, the Military Police are famous for off-hours overzealousness. Human rights groups estimate there are two police-committed killings a day on average in Brazil. About 200 police officers are fired every year for their participation in organized kidnapping, corruption and death squads. The Vigario Geral shantytown massacre on August 30, 1994, is probably the most famous example of their devotion to cleaning up the streets. That night 21 men, women and children were murdered by at least 30 masked gunmen believed to be police officers acting in vengeance for 4 officers killed two days earlier in the shantytown.

But while the Policia Militar (usually retired or off-duty police officers) spend their off-hours in hit squads eliminating street kids, the hit squads are being hunted by other less violent but equally eager hit squads. Brazil has created a force to police the police force, a federal police unit tasked with investigating and eliminating death squads all over the country. Death squads and drug traffickers are considered major contributors to Rio's murder rate of more than 60 per every 100,000 people.

Rather then retaining attorneys to handle legal matters, Brazilians prefer hit men. The tab reads like a restaurant menu. Want to off an impoverished peasant? This week's special is only US$70. But if you want to take out a prominent politician, expect to pay for the caviar: about US$20,000. About half of the 12 killings a day in S

http://www.state.gov/www/global/narcotics_law/1998_narc_report/major/Brazil.html