Specialized units of the Military Police will act in the fight against organized crime in the capital

Salvador gained reinforcements in the fight against criminal factions that terrorize the population. This Tuesday (22), 120 agents from specialized units of the Military Police (PM) began operating in the capital of Bahia with the support of 30 vehicles. The police officers came from the interior of the state to strengthen local policing, which is trying to curb the actions of organized crime in the city. The Independent Specialized Police Companies (CIPES) – known as Caatinga – are part of the mosaic of forces.

The role of police reinforcement was made official late this Tuesday morning (22), at an event held at the Bahia Administrative Center (CAB). In a show of force, all vehicles used in Operation Horus took to the streets at the same time (see the video below). Despite not detailing which neighborhoods will receive the police officers, Marcelo Werner, head of the Bahia Public Security Secretariat (SSP-BA), acknowledged that the intervention is a result of the increase in violence in Salvador.

“Hórus is an operation to reinforce policing in the capital aimed at combating violent crimes against property and life. We noticed that, in recent weeks, the dynamics of confrontation between factions over territory has intensified. Therefore, an operation is necessary to face this action”, he explained.

There is no deadline for the end of the reinforcement in the capital. In addition to Caatinga, the action will feature police officers from the Independent Tactical Policing Companies (CIPTs/Rondesp) and other specialized units, such as the Mobile Tactical Patrol Battalions (Patamo) and the Shock Police.

This is yet another action in the wake of reinforcements to combat crime in the state. Last Friday (18), the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and SSP-BA delivered 127 vehicles, which will serve Salvador and cities in the interior. At the end of this year, 2 thousand vehicles will be delivered. Paulo Coutinho, general commander of the Military Police of Bahia, detailed how the reinforcement will work

“The work will be guided by our intelligence. The idea is to increase overt policing in the areas of the city that need it most. We will do this with the aim of stopping the problems that have been occurring. The biggest problem today is the community not being able to move freely and not being safe”, he said.

Last week, at least five neighborhoods in Salvador were subject to partially suspended bus circulation due to armed conflicts. They were: IAPI, Pernambués, Bairro da Paz, São Gonçalo do Retiro and Pero Vaz.

This year alone, eight collectives were set on fire in criminal actions in the capital of Bahia, with the last case registered at IAPI, last Wednesday (16). The wave of attacks follows the increase in homicides in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador. In 24 hours, 14 people were killed in the locality.