Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety [Archive] - Page 6

Sperto

08-26-16, 18:36

Exec Talent

08-27-16, 03:58

I know that all the papers are telling about crimerates in Rio are increasing, but still they have been telling this for ages. No doubt that you need to use common sense to avoid getting robbed in Rio, but IMO I find Rio much safer today than it used to be.

In the early nineties there were much more muggings in Copacabana (specially around Help), more arrastes on the beaches, shootings every night in Cantagalo, PM and the army going up in Pavo in Ipanema with tanks and attack helicopters, a wave of bank robberies in Zona Sul (the robbers just driving their cars through the windows) and an average murderrate of 27 people/each day in Rio

Quoting Sergeant Esterhaus: "Let's Be Careful Out There" .Your historical view on Crime in Rio certainly puts things into perspective. Now, I think it is just a lot of petty, have to be on your guard stuff. I remember the Brazilian woman screaming as the thief ran off with her purse (and passed right by me before I realized what had happened) that she had lost everything. It is such a pain to have to deal with that especially if you are a short-term tourist in another country (been there, done that, have the notation in my passport that it had been stolen to prove it). That is the kind of crime that I think is on the rise in Rio. The economy sucks and people need to eat. Add to that the government's attempts to disrupt the drug trade and you got to ask, how is a favela rat to get by? Before, the drug lords kept them in line. Today, they find someone to rob.

Spidy

07-01-17, 16:47

On one list, it has Fortaleza and Natal as Most Dangerous Brazilian Cities (murder rate, per 100,000) and another Maraba, Caruaru and Viamão. 16 Brazilian cities top the list out of 50. Like WTF?? Like really Natal? (Lists do not include cites where there is war) Website: http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-dangerous-cities-in-the-world.html.

The Economist puts Brazil as the murder capital of the world and Maraba, Caruaru and Viamão, topping their list as Brazilians top cities. Website: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/03/daily-chart-23.

". The middle of the list is dominated by Brazil: the world′s second-biggest cocaine consumer is home to half of all cities in the ranking. That mostly reflects its large population. During the past. Year, violence has reshuffled from place to place within Brazil: the murder rate has fallen in the largest cities, but increased in smaller ones. In Maraba and Viamão, homicides rose by 20% in a year, whereas in São Paulo, Brazil's most populous city, murders fell by 55% from 2014 to 2015. Unlike in Mexico and Central America, there is evidence of a slight overall improvement: the national homicide rate fell from 29 per 100,000 in 2014 to 27 in 2015, the latest year for which data are available. Nonetheless, by sheer virtue of its size, Brazil reigns as the world′s overall murder capital: 56,212 people were killed there in 2015. ".

Do YOU now feel safer about Rio?

BTW, has anyone experienced any extra violence in Fortaleza or Natal recently?

Exec Talent

07-01-17, 23:53

On one list, it has Fortaleza and Natal as Most Dangerous Brazilian Cities (murder rate, per 100,000) and another Maraba, Caruaru and Viamo. 16 Brazilian cities top the list out of 50. Like WTF?? Like really Natal? (Lists do not include cites where there is war) Website: http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-dangerous-cities-in-the-world.html.

The Economist puts Brazil as the murder capital of the world and Maraba, Caruaru and Viamo, topping their list as Brazilians top cities. Website: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/03/daily-chart-23.

". The middle of the list is dominated by Brazil: the world′s second-biggest cocaine consumer is home to half of all cities in the ranking. That mostly reflects its large population. During the past. Year, violence has reshuffled from place to place within Brazil: the murder rate has fallen in the largest cities, but increased in smaller ones. In Maraba and Viamo, homicides rose by 20% in a year, whereas in So Paulo, Brazil's most populous city, murders fell by 55% from 2014 to 2015. Unlike in Mexico and Central America, there is evidence of a slight overall improvement: the national homicide rate fell from 29 per 100,000 in 2014 to 27 in 2015, the latest year for which data are available. Nonetheless, by sheer virtue of its size, Brazil reigns as the world′s overall murder capital: 56,212 people were killed there in 2015. ".

Do YOU now feel safer about Rio?

BTW, has anyone experienced any extra violence in Fortaleza or Natal recently?Wouldn't trust these statistics too much.

In the US, law enforcement loves to calls murders suicides so they do not have to investigate and they do not have to report a rise in crime. I personally know of several instances.

Orlando had a mass shooting of 49 at a nightclub. Murders seem to take place there every week. Do you think that is going to get much press?

Sperto

07-02-17, 07:33

Regarding the list with dangerous brazilian cities, not surprisingly to find many cities from the north and northeast of Brazil. What's interesting are the causes of death, gang wars, prison riots etc. Many of these brazilian cities are very violent for sure, but not really that dangerous if you go there as a tourist and stay in the tourist parts of the city.

I'm not surprised that Natal is that high on the list. When I went there this year there were a lot of violence going on in the city. Prison riots, bandits burning buses and the army keeping order in the city. Fortaleza is definitely a city where there are a lof violence and death. Mostly parts of the city far away from Iracema and Beira-Mar.

Java Man

12-23-18, 13:56

For a country that does Not have a Life sentence, (maximum is 30 years,) and No Death Penalty Law, Rio's Governor-elect Wilson Witzel, has given his security forces a License to Kill. "As many as 120 sharpshooters will accompany police incursions into the slums of Brazil. "The protocol will be to immediately neutralize, slaughter anyone who has a rifle. ".

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-22/license-to-kill-policing-to-get-a-trial-run-in-rio-de-janeiro

Exec Talent

01-17-19, 01:42

From the Rio Report Thread:

- Rio de Janeiro gives a vibe of being much sketchier than Sao Paulo. I didn't get mugged or robbed, nothing got stolen. But it just feels sketchier. However, in general it's safe as long as you don't go into bad neighborhoods or empty streets. I was either in the city center (Carioca, Cinelandia, etc) or Copacobana / Ipanema (the beaches) - the areas I was in were usually somewhat crowded, so I was fine. But I have a feeling that if I saw a group of idle-looking kids on an empty street, I'd be tempted to just run away, possibly leaving my flip flops behind. Maybe it's just me being paranoid.After about 80 visits to Rio, some extending for months, I think I could be called a veteran. I wear Havaianas in the apartment in Rio, but never on the street. No matter how comfortable you feel in them, there is no way you are going to outrun or out maneuver a favela rat wearing flip flops. I have and always will only wear tennis shoes on the streets of Rio. No flip flops. No sandals.

Sperto

04-13-19, 10:17

Brazil Crime.There is already a thread "Rio de Janeiro. Crime & Safety".

Java Man

07-19-19, 22:32

Oglobo reporting there was an 81% increase between Jan and May 2019 of pedestrian robberies in the Copa area, compared to the same period last year. Oglobo Photog caught one of these robberies on film. Little bastard got away, unfortunately. The victim was a Brazilian tourist, BTW. He's a big dude, didn't matter to the little fuker.

https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/confira-flagrante-de-um-furto-no-calcadao-de-copacabana-23813585

https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/copacabana-registra-aumento-de-mais-de-80-nos-roubos-pedestres-entre-janeiro-maio-de-2019-23813469

BarryManila

07-20-19, 09:17

Oglobo reporting there was an 81% increase between Jan and May 2019 of pedestrian robberies in the Copa area, compared to the same period last year. Oglobo Photog caught one of these robberies on film. Little bastard got away, unfortunately. The victim was a Brazilian tourist, BTW. He's a big dude, didn't matter to the little fuker.Exactly the same happened to me several years ago. I just walked at Avenida Atlantica / Copacabana and suddenly a 16-year-old boy (barefoot) in a green shirt came running from behind, grabbed my golden necklace and ran away. Since then I will never wear again jewelry or a watch in the streets of Rio. Just some money for a drink or a sandwich in my shoes. Anyway, the police caught him later because of his bright green shirt. He was still in the area.

Sperto

08-29-19, 17:08

Foreign tourist killed during mugging in Ipanema.

https://meiahora.ig.com.br/geral/2019/08/5676775-turista-chines-e-morto-esfaqueado-em-assalto-na-praia-de-ipanema.html

UniversalX

09-17-19, 07:40

Sperto

02-07-20, 10:19

Another gringo tourist murdered.

A Lithuanian tourist, 37 year, and his brazilian GF/wife, rented a beach house in Praia do Sono, outside Paraty in RJ state. A guy entered the house armed with a knife, tied up the guy, raped the girl, tortured the guy and then killed him. The suspect is a guy who was hired to take care of the grass.

https://g1.globo.com/rj/sul-do-rio-costa-verde/noticia/2020/02/06/mulher-de-turista-lituano-morto-em-paraty-diz-a-policia-que-suspeito-vinha-lhe-assediando.ghtml

Golfinho

02-07-20, 10:31

Foreign tourist killed during mugging in Ipanema.

https://meiahora.ig.com.br/geral/2019/08/5676775-turista-chines-e-morto-esfaqueado-em-assalto-na-praia-de-ipanema.htmlHope this one gets a lot of publicity in China.

Rio Bob

02-07-20, 13:41

Shit happens, try to limit items taken by having cheap items like wireless headphones if anything at all and hide phone or music player inside clothing.I walk around with a full size camera and many people tell me to be careful but I never felt threatened or seen anything suspicious going on.

Sperto

02-11-20, 21:03

IMO there are two dangers in Brazil that worries me, the traffic and umbrellas. The traffic because they drive like crazy. The umbrellas is even a major danger in Brazil. As soon as the rain starts everybody opens up their umbrellas. The problem is that most brazilians are quite short and their umbrellas are often close to rip out my eyes.

As it's being very rainy in Rio this summer it's dangerous times. I wouldn't recommend anybody coming here.

Spidy

04-16-20, 01:37

In Brazil's Rio de Janeiro mafia-like organizations known as "the militia" have become even more feared for their violence and control of the city than its notorious drug gangs...

Will the real "thugs", "criminals" and "gangsters", please stand up, ...please stand up, ...please stand up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1TQIMTsstw

Sperto

04-16-20, 07:20

Spidy

04-18-20, 00:33

Nothing new, the milcia has been a threat since the mid-nineties.Yep! That's probably quite true. But I hope the irony of a messy complicated situation, that many of the locals find themselves in, isn't lost on you. Especially, when it comes figuring out JUST EXACTLY who are the so-called "bandits", "thugs", "criminals" and "gangsters". Better the devil you know than the one you don't'? ...hmmm

Sperto

04-18-20, 01:43

Yep! That's probably quite true. But I hope the irony of a messy complicated situation, that many of the locals find themselves in, isn't lost on you. Especially, when it comes figuring out JUST EXACTLY who are the so-called "bandits", "thugs", "criminals" and "gangsters". Better the devil you know than the one you don't'? ...hmmm
Milcia or faco, it's the same shit. The problem is when you stay in a favela where two milcias/faces start to fight over that area. Then you'll wake up by shootings next to your door, I know by experience. It won't help that the favela is under control of UPP.

Exec Talent

04-19-20, 14:00

Spidy

04-22-20, 00:37

The issue with foreign journalists is always the same. They hear about a problem. They come in, hype the problem, and leave. Their viewers all go, isn't that awful, and turn the channel.

If you have lived among Brazilians, you are well aware of this situation. It is not hyped news for the foreign market, it is reality. It is insulting for foreigners to sell and benefit from it when they have no intent on being part of the solution. Well said. Just not enough in-depth and comprehensive coverage of social-polical issues these days, in an world of click-bait, quick sound bits and tick-tock videos.

Many times I get asked by tourists to recommend a favela tour. I suggest that they wait until they get back to the US and tour the slums in LOS Angeles, New York, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore or my personal favorite, Las Vegas. Behind all those lights and glitter on the Strip are people living in rundown apartments working the casinos and trying to survive. Indeed, we definitely have our own "backyard" mess to clean up.

As has been mentioned, these police militias are nothing new. About 15 years ago, I had a very good friend killed by one of them. His family did nothing because they feared reprisal. That is not media hype for first world viewers, that is reality Sorry to hear about your good friend. Definitely enough blame to go around though, for the woes in Brazil. From the media, to the politicians, to the police and society at large.

Yep, Complicated! Time will tell I guess, as to how much safer people* feel with this new gov't regime.

*Note: "People", meaning it naturally depends on your social-economical makeup w/r to this decision. This includes us as tourists or mongers.

Exec Talent

04-22-20, 01:55

Sorry to hear about your good friend. Definitely enough blame to go around though, for the woes in Brazil. From the media, to the politicians, to the police and society at large.

Yep, Complicated! Time will tell I guess, as to how much safer people* feel with this new gov't regime.

*Note: "People", meaning it naturally depends on your social-economical makeup w/r to this decision. This includes us as tourists or mongers.Since many people here just come and go and often, from the comments I read, have a certain impression of Brazilians, let me say that there are some good apples.

With this particular friend and his wife, I used to go to MPB clubs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BAsica_popular_brasileira

Routinely we would have dinner and spend the night out. There was never let the rich gringo pay. He always insisted on fairly dividing the costs. Good times with good people.

Kcrl01

04-22-20, 04:18

Exec Talent

09-04-20, 15:30

You may notice some of us mentioning clubs or venues outside the tourist zone.

I have spent time in various Favelas and the North Zone in Rio. Just to give you an idea, I am blond fair-skinned and it was not unusual for the little kids to want to touch me and feel my hair. I have had a similar, but not as tactile reaction when I was the only Caucasian in rural areas of Japan. Different is different. My point is, if you are Caucasian, you will stand out. This is not always a good or safe thing especially if you do not speak Portuguese. Also have been to a number of Baile Funk parties. One in a favela I left because the locals were not particularly happy that one of their hot Brazilian honeys was with a gringo. Speaking of favelas. I find the favela tours disgusting. Look at the poor people. Look how they live. It is to gain cultural understanding, but more like visiting a zoo. Would you advise visitors to your city to take a tour of the slums?

Xpartan

11-10-20, 05:26

Question for Rio vets mostly. My last trip was in February. Just curious if the pandemic has changed the situation on the ground, for better or worse.

Spidy

05-19-21, 05:18

This might seem counter-intuitive but I think the gangs in Rio while contributing to the murder rate have a greater impact on keeping the number of overall murders down. For a time I felt safer in Rio favelas than in USA Hoods. Reason being unless you do some lame shit (vacilar) nobody is going to bother you. They actually can't, it's part of the favela code. For this reason I only go to strong favelas. Mare, Penha, Complexo do Alemao, Jacare, Manguinhos all have a strong code. Most favelas in Baixada I won't go to. Flimsy leadership and and bunch of broke MF'ers is a bad combo.

In smaller city favelas / slums the fear factor is lacking. People are willing to test the waters. In Rio, not so much. If you break laws of the favela you are judged by what's called the tribunal of trafico. If you get the thumbs down you're out of here like in ancient Rome. Right then and there you're done, usually in grotesque fashion. So that's a pretty strong motivation not to vacilar. Smaller cities don't have the same organization and structure to discourage. In the NE in Ceara, it's still like Rio was 30+ years ago. The gangs don't have G3 rifles, mostly 38's and shotguns. So the police kill a lot more bandits. They can enter favelas at will. In Rio, it has to be a planned operation. Also, there are more milicias which are basically dirty cops who also murder a lot. Overall a lot more freelancers not used to answering to anybody. At least that's what I've witnessed.Thank you for a very illuminating explanation. Your Rio experiences and knowledge shines through, once again.

Your explanation, most definitely would explain some of the crime related discripancies, between the smaller and larger cites. Also what you describe, I don't think is something that is easily distilled into simple black and white.

As you point out, there are alot of these "milicias" or dirty cops around. So when it's reported that cops are killed in certain circumstances, I'm thinking maybe it was "dirty cops" and perhaps they deserved it.

Consider that many of the favela gang-members, don't even have a "pot to piss-in", yet somehow copious amounts of contraband, drugs and guns, somehow find their way to the favelas. How do they get there? Where do they come from? It is widely reported that in some instances, the "police" (or "milicias") are the ones supplying the criminal gangs the guns and contraband.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/12/brazil-militia-paramilitary-wield-terror-seize-power-from-drug-gangs

Many of these so called police / ex-police members, the "milicianos", have taken over gang related criminal activities, in some of these favela neighborhoods and are many times worse than the criminal gangs that they've usurped. Some in the people in the favelas feel that they are the "lesser of two evils", others not so much.

So is the act of crime/murder/killing/drug trafficking and all its other nasty forms, ONLY okay ("righteous") , when police/ex-police ("milicianos") or dirty-cops do it?

Spidy

05-19-21, 05:22

There is an explaination why many cities in northeast amd north have very high murder rates. The last decades these regions had a quick economic growth.

Unfortunately the public security have not grown much. The police forces are way to small and the prisons are crowded.
During the last decade many of the criminal organizations have grown very strong in these regions. Besides the big ones like Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital there are also lots of others like Terceiro Comando Puro, Amigos dos Amigos, Famlia do Norte and many more local organizations. They fight over territory and control of the drug trafficing. These fights combined with understaffed PM and violent milcias creates chaos and results in many people being killed.Thank you, this also is a very reasonable and plausible explanation for those wanting to know more about crime and safety in the northern regions.

Just curious, though, any thoughts on the "milicianos" or dirty-cops, rampant throughout Brazil, as Brasil Nut points out and you've mentioned as "violent milcias"?

Sperto

05-19-21, 07:40

Just curious, though, any thoughts on the "milicianos" or dirty-cops, rampant throughout Brazil, as Brasil Nut points out and you've mentioned as "violent milcias"?
Milícias are mostly made up of police or soldiers, current or ex. Some say they have their roots in the old death squads.
Just like the bandits they control comunidades and drug traffic. They often have monopoly on selling gas and supplying water, charging high fees. The people living in the comunidades need to pay monthly fees for protection and other charges. If they don't pay, milícias give them trouble.
IMO the milícias are no better than the other criminal organizations. They are often more ruthless and violent.
One difference is that the milícias are more political involved. They have dirty politicians on their payroll.

Regarding their weapons. The gangs do have very large pots to piss in. Last year they bought weapons for R$1 bilhão. Some are stolen/bought from police/soldiers but the majority are smuggled from Paraguay.
Regarding the gangs in northeast and north are only armed with 38s and shotguns, that's uncorrect.

Vagabundo1

05-19-21, 16:45

See Kilcullen, Öut of the Mountains" -- the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Out-of-Mountains-David-Kilcullen-audiobook/dp/B07BS1T9GT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=kilcullen&qid=1621439593&sr=8-2

Megacities (10 m+ souls) are shaped like O or you, with a state controlled middle or in the case of Rio, the rich zona sul on the coast and harbor, surrounded by a periphery that is governed by criminals, or the militias in question.

Rio (12 m), SP (20 m), on down the line (about 47 and counting) are all shaped the same.

Hookers are double, triple spys in these wars. The best girl at the former secret terma last reported her position from jacarizinho, the site of the police raid that whacked 25+ . I banged her. Player 3 banged her. When and if you have these hookers over pernoite, they are spying on the rich world gringos in the heart of the part of the city under the control of the state police.

This is where the action is in this century.

Milcias are mostly made up of police or soldiers, current or ex. Some say they have their roots in the old death squads.
Just like the bandits they control comunidades and drug traffic. They often have monopoly on selling gas and supplying water, charging high fees. The people living in the comunidades need to pay monthly fees for protection and other charges. If they don't pay, milcias give them trouble.
IMO the milcias are no better than the other criminal organizations. They are often more ruthless and violent.
One difference is that the milcias are more political involved. They have dirty politicians on their payroll.

Regarding their weapons. The gangs do have very large pots to piss in. Last year they bought weapons for R$1 bilho. Some are stolen/bought from police/soldiers but the majority are smuggled from Paraguay.
Regarding the gangs in northeast and north are only armed with 38s and shotguns, that's uncorrect.

HelloIm

05-19-21, 17:29

So after asking this question, I've gotten "mixed" answers I would say, regarding the safety of smaller cities vs Rio / SP.

If I have to weigh in, once again from someone that hasn't been to South America yet, but travelled to other places in the world. IMO, bigger cities are usually safer. I mean more people = more opportunities for crime right? But you also get more local people, more tourists, so there's definitely an aura of "protection".

In smaller cities, I imagine you might get pickpocketed in a busy area, but you could stand out, and they might even target you for bigger crimes.

This is my train of thought when considering visiting smaller cities in which I don't speak the language, or look like the locals. Wondering if anyone else can weigh in more on this, pertaining to Brazil.

Captain Solo

05-19-21, 20:37

HelloIm,

For crimes you should look for reliable stats on crimes rates in each city, but you must have read lots of violent crimes in Rio and Sao Paolo. My local friends in both cities were scared stiff of local crimes.

I met a bro in Rio. He was working for the US gov, been to Rio and Brazil many times, had friends and family locally. He and I went to the Carnaval together. Among the big crowd of tens of thousands people exiting on the way back, he insisted we wait for a taxi driven by a friend with his family. He would not get in an unknown taxi. There were reports of mongers robbed by drivers when taking bar girls home.

Big cities have more people and bigger crowd, but also more criminals. One rainy night I nearly got robbed right outside the fancy hotel Copacabana. My feelings are that people, even in nicer parts of Rio, are cold and hardened. If you get stabbed to death on the street they would probably not intervene. I pulled a couple escorts, bar girls, disco girls, street girls in Rio. They were hard-assed ghetto types. Got into a fight in the apartment after sex with a street girl from Barbarella. She was screaming, flinging her arms, demanding more money. Had to push her out and call security. She was screaming and cursing down the street hehe. My Brazilian monger friend suggested I go to smaller towns down South for nicer, light-skinned girls, and North near the equator for darker skin and spicier girls. Rio's garbage, grimes, crowd, noise, dirt, homeless people ect just took all the fun and warm feelings out of my visit.

I took a cheap vacation to Foz do Iquacu from BS As, only $250 for airfare, 3 nights hotel near down town including buffet lunch. Iquacu is a nice, clean small jungle town nestled between Brazil. Argentina and Paraguay, a beautiful, green, pristine tropical vacation spot with the largest water falls in the world with tens thousands tourists everyday. The pace was slow and relaxing; people were nice, warm fun, happy, engaging and there were lots of very beautiful girls working local casas. Had a very good and sexy time in Iquacu.

Hotel staff did warn me to be careful where I go as some neighborhoods are rough and boys may hold knives to my throat and take my wallet, But the town was so nice, clean, green, quiet, peaceful and beautiful. I could not stop walking all over town with a fork in my pocket as strategic deterrence hehe.

Struck a deal with a young taxi driver in front of the hotel. He drove me all over Iquacu, both Brazil and Argentina sides plus Paraguay for a fixed day rate. He also drove me to many local casas each with 5 to 8 local girls in dresses, not very glammy but nice, clean, tight, sexy, like the girl with braces. Took them back to the hotel, had very good times partying with multiple pops for about $50.

The girl in red was from another state, working at Krystal, an upscale club about 5 miles out of town. She was beautiful but had a fishy odor. Even after washing it spoiled my mood.

Girl in blue top was working in a clothing shop downtown. There are many beautiful civie girls working in shops in downtown Iquacu. Looked like they were open for relationships just to get out of that little town hehe. There also lots of single women tourists from Argentina and Europe wanting to party.

I would come back to Iquacu and other small towns when I am in South America, but never Rio or Sao Paolo again.

Spidy

05-19-21, 20:59

Regarding their weapons. The gangs do have very large pots to piss in. Last year they bought weapons for R$1 bilho. Some are stolen/bought from police/soldiers but the majority are smuggled from Paraguay.

Regarding the gangs in northeast and north are only armed with 38s and shotguns, that's uncorrect.Where did you get that number, R$1 billion? And what is the makeup / breakdown of that number? (ie. , Rio, SP, the whole of Brazil?).

Because I assert they (favela foot soldiers) "don't have a pot to piss-in", would suggest that, the number you quote (R$1 billion), is just a some kind of "market / street value", of Contraband weapons that were seized and the bulk of this value, is most likely stolen from police caches or those given by dirty-police and politicians (as you have stated), in exchange for payment at a later date, via bank heists or drug trafficking or from other criminal activities.

Basically, it doesn't mean they had the upfront cash / money to pay for said weapons. Unless these favela foot soldiers, have secret Brazilian / Swiss bank accounts, that we don't know about.

If there are reports detailing the cash payments were made in the transactions related to acquiring the said $1 billion in contraband weapons, I would love to see it.

"...Schethtman, who reportedly holds American, British and Israeli citizenship, was being investigated for selling weapons and explosives which were used in bank robberies carried out by criminal groups in Rio de Janeiro, cops said..."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8764397/Brazilian-authorities-arrest-American-man-sold-weapons-explosives-Rio-Janeiro-gangs.html

Crooked, dirty politicians and dirty police, 'El Gringo' American arms dealers, begs the question, "Will the real criminals please stand up, please stand up?".

The only difference is that, dirty politicians, dirty police and 'El Gringo' American arms dealers, are given the presumption of innocent until proven guilty and are arrested and taken into custody and have "allegedly committed the crime". Not so much for those 25 massacred and multiple others severely injured at Jacarezinho.

"...At least 25 people were killed early on Thursday when police raided Jacarezinho, on Rio de Janeiros north side, in an operation police said targeted a gang suspected of recruiting children and teenagers."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/07/brazil-un-voices-alarm-rio-favela-police-raid-deaths

Gangs "suspected" of recruiting children and teenagers, is nothing new to police and nothing to get murdered and massacred over.

Spidy

05-19-21, 23:01

How is crime in smaller cities VS Rio/SP. So after asking this question, I've gotten "mixed" answers I would say, regarding the safety of smaller cities vs Rio/SP . . .Not sure why you thought your answers were mixed. Even so, with mixed answers, which means there isn't a consensus, would lend someone to simply just draw their own conclusions, from the mixed reviews BMs gave you.

Most BMs, that answered your post, seem to think it was fairly safe or never had any problems, but to use common sense and be mindful and sensible w/r to your surroundings, no matter where you are.

Look if you're looking for guarantees, there are none. Crime can be found everywhere in Brazil, just like most places in the US or Europe.

I think your question was answered here:

I would say there is close to a 0% chance. The main place that you need to look out in is Rio. The rest of Brazil is nothing like it and most people from other cities are even afraid to go there. The rest of Brazil is nowhere near as dangerous or favela-y. It is pretty laid back and quiet. Of the tons of cities that I have been to in Brazil, Maceio sticks out as one of my favorites and I could see myself living there.And here:

. . .Perhaps a bit puzzling to decipher, why smaller cities have high crime rates, than RJ / SP, but make of it, what you will.

My personal experiences staying in many of these "smaller cities", has been all good, except for the major fluctuations in talent / action from time to time. And here:

I believe any big city in Brazil has dangers lurking around when a vacationing gringo is walking down the street without a worry in the world. . . .And here:

In general the brazilian capitals in the north and northeast are more violent than Rio de Janeiro. Most of the major cities have favelas with the presence of all the usual criminal organizations. Your safety depends on where you go and when. Many of these capitals have centros that are perfectly safe during daytime but are deserted and dangerous at nighttime. Some of the capitals have touristic bairros where you can feel quite safe at night. In 31 years I've never been mugged in Brazil. I think you could feel safe as long as you use common sense. On the other hand if you walk into the wrong street and are unlucky you might get robbed. And now, even testimony from a BM, that will ONLY do smaller towns. No too mention pictures of the hot action to be found said smaller towns, like in Foz do Iquacu:

. . . I would come back to Iquacu and other small towns when I am in South America, but never Rio or Sao Paolo again.Clear enough now? That said there are still no guarantees.

Sperto

05-20-21, 04:10

Where did you get that number, R$1 billion?
If you're in doubt you should try Google (about 7 seconds).
https://odia.ig.com.br/rio-de-janeiro/2020/10/6012903-crime-ja-gastou-cerca-de--rs1-bilhao-com-armas.html
https://www.meiahora.com.br/geral/2020/10/6014522-crime-organizado-ja-gastou-cerca-de-rs-1-bilhao-com-armas.html

Spidy

05-20-21, 06:09

Last year they bought weapons for R$1 bilho. According to the report, this was the amount "spent" by criminal organizations, was for the entire State of Rio de Janeiro and was over the last four years. Not just last year.

Sperto

05-20-21, 07:59

According to the report, this was the amount "spent" by criminal organizations, was for the entire State of Rio de Janeiro and was over the last four years. Not just last year.
Yes, R$ 1 bilhão spent by bandits in RJ during 4 years. You can do your research how much the bandits in all of Brazil spend on arms every year. I'm more interested in p*ssy than arms.

Vagabundo1

05-20-21, 09:31

Senor Sperto again is very funny.

These trends go back to Jose Anchieta, ser the deniro film the mission, or more recently tropa de elite.

Now let's get back to pussy.

The killing will take care of itself.

The Tall Man

05-20-21, 16:48

HelloIm,

For crimes you should look for reliable stats on crimes rates in each city, but you must have read lots of violent crimes in Rio and Sao Paolo. My local friends in both cities were scared stiff of local crimes.

I met a bro in Rio. He was working for the US gov, been to Rio and Brazil many times, had friends and family locally. He and I went to the Carnaval together. Among the big crowd of tens of thousands people exiting on the way back, he insisted we wait for a taxi driven by a friend with his family. He would not get in an unknown taxi. There were reports of mongers robbed by drivers when taking bar girls home.

Big cities have more people and bigger crowd, but also more criminals. One rainy night I nearly got robbed right outside the fancy hotel Copacabana. My feelings are that people, even in nicer parts of Rio, are cold and hardened. If you get stabbed to death on the street they would probably not intervene. I pulled a couple escorts, bar girls, disco girls, street girls in Rio. They were hard-assed ghetto types. Got into a fight in the apartment after sex with a street girl from Barbarella. She was screaming, flinging her arms, demanding more money. Had to push her out and call security. She was screaming and cursing down the street hehe. My Brazilian monger friend suggested I go to smaller towns down South for nicer, light-skinned girls, and North near the equator for darker skin and spicier girls. Rio's garbage, grimes, crowd, noise, dirt, homeless people ect just took all the fun and warm feelings out of my visit.

I took a cheap vacation to Foz do Iquacu from BS As, only $250 for airfare, 3 nights hotel near down town including buffet lunch. Iquacu is a nice, clean small jungle town nestled between Brazil. Argentina and Paraguay, a beautiful, green, pristine tropical vacation spot with the largest water falls in the world with tens thousands tourists everyday. The pace was slow and relaxing; people were nice, warm fun, happy, engaging and there were lots of very beautiful girls working local casas. Had a very good and sexy time in Iquacu.

Hotel staff did warn me to be careful where I go as some neighborhoods are rough and boys may hold knives to my throat and take my wallet, But the town was so nice, clean, green, quiet, peaceful and beautiful. I could not stop walking all over town with a fork in my pocket as strategic deterrence hehe..Captain, for the past 20 years we are like 2 ships passing in the night, so much time in Tijuana and now me living in Medellin for over 3 years and I too am planning another visit to Brazil when the virus subsides, and our choice in girls is identical, your like a brother from another mother as the saying goes.

I could fall in love with any of these chicas that you posted so I got to be careful heheheh.

Much love and respect to all!

The Tall Man.

Vagabundo1

05-20-21, 18:39

As is written in s1 e1 of Generation Kill.

Look at this shit. How come.

We can't ever invade a cool country.

Like chicks in bikinis, you know?

How come countries like.

That don't ever need Marines?

I'll tell you why.

It's lack of pussy.

That fucks countries up.

Lack of pussy is the root fucking.

Cause of all global instability.

If more hajis were.

Getting quality pussy.

There'd be no reason for us to come.

Over here and fuck them up like this.

'cause a nut-busted.

Haji is a happy haji.

I'm more interested in p*ssy than arms.

Spidy

05-22-21, 03:10

Yes, R$ 1 bilho spent by bandits in RJ during 4 years. You can do your research how much the bandits in all of Brazil spend on arms every year. I'm more interested in p*ssy than arms.This after all is the Rio de Janeiro Crime & Safety thread, which may involve pussy at times and at times it may not. It's easy enough to figure that out.

No one is stopping you from talking about pussy, in this thread, if that's were the conversation takes you. Carry on...Enjoy!

Sperto

05-22-21, 06:36

No one is stopping you from talking about pussy, in this thread...
Weird... I can't recall I wrote that I wanted to talk about pussy in this thread.

Made my remember a funk music made by MC Levin, "Buceta Criminosa"
It goes like:
"Cadê aquela mina da buceta criminosa
De tanto sentar assassinou a minha piroca
Assassinou, assassinou, assassinou minha piroca
Que buceta criminosa que prendeu o meu piru"

Brasil Nut

05-23-21, 18:23

"Regarding the gangs in northeast and north are only armed with 38's and shotguns, that's incorrect. ".

Sperto is pretty much spot on about the militias. I'm not incorrect about the guns though. There are still favelas in Rio that only have pistols and shotguns and that's Rio so there's no question smaller cities are like that. They might have one fully auto for the whole favela. It comes down to money, allocation of resources, and threat assessment. I know a boss who had about 8 favelas. He used to have a piece of Complexo do Lins which was armed to the teeth. Most of his favelas were Baixada (Caxias) and it was exactly like I stated. Pistols, shotguns, maybe a couple WWII relics and one AR-15. But that's a lot to somebody with just a. 22. Or a knife LOL. A Fal or HK G3 is going for $60 - $80 k and they aren't going in the hands of just anybody. I've seen cops enter favelas Baixada in just a blazer. Nowhere in ZN is that happening, only Caveiraos. And I'm not sure who said what but 90% of bandidos in favelas don't have a pot to piss in. Everything gets kicked up to the top. Most guys are getting $300-$400 a week and the perk of parading around with a gun during the weekly baile. That's literally what they're risking their lives for. They just want to "tira onda com as novinhas".

Now to me, milicianos are the scum of the earth. Sperto is right, they're the spawn of their death squad fathers and uncles who were apart of the dictatorship regime. Brasil became a democracy but those guys still had political ties which protected them and allowed them to flourish. Their main game is extortion in one form or another but they'll happily do murder for hire as well. I did time in Rio and cops / milicianos had their own gallery. I couldn't even tell you how many were over there but it was a lot. I was talking to a bicheiro (jogo de bicho boss) who slept in the bunk in front of me and remember him telling me there were cops there that he knew for a fact had committed over 100 murders. And this was from a guy who dealt with dirty cops on a daily basis. They were basically his enforcers / security. Rio is a trip when it comes to crime. It's like an onion, every time you peel back a layer there's more, more, more.

Spidy

05-23-21, 18:31

Made my remember a funk music made by MC Levin, "Buceta Criminosa"
It goes like:

"Cad aquela mina da buceta criminosa
De tanto sentar assassinou a minha piroca
Assassinou, assassinou, assassinou minha piroca
Que buceta criminosa que prendeu o meu piru"Now that's funny!!!...and entirely and very apropos!

Weird... I can't recall I wrote that I wanted to talk about pussy in this thread.
Nothing weird about it. If you read my post I said,"... if that's where the conversation takes you. Carry on...Enjoy!" / And apparently it did.

Spidy

05-23-21, 19:16

...I took a cheap vacation to Foz do Iquacu from BS As, only $250 for airfare, 3 nights hotel near down town including buffet lunch. Iquacu is a nice, clean small jungle town nestled between Brazil. Argentina and Paraguay, a beautiful, green, pristine tropical vacation spot with the largest water falls in the world with tens thousands tourists everyday. The pace was slow and relaxing; people were nice, warm fun, happy, engaging and there were lots of very beautiful girls working local casas. Had a very good and sexy time in Iquacu. ...

I would come back to Iquacu and other small towns when I am in South America, but never Rio or Sao Paolo again.Cap Solo, with all the hullabaloo (albeit more crime related info on cities), I forgot to say thank you earlier, for a terrific post on your non-pro / semi-pro experiences and action, that can be found in the smaller cities like Foz do Iquacu.

Very informative. Thank you and thanks for sharing your hot pics.

BTW, was this a recent trip? Or over a number of years?

Spidy

05-24-21, 00:49

Sperto is pretty much spot on about the militias. I'm not incorrect about the guns though.

There are still favelas in Rio that only have pistols and shotguns and that's Rio so there's no question smaller cities are like that. They might have one fully auto for the whole favela. It comes down to money, allocation of resources, and threat assessment. I know a boss who had about 8 favelas. He used to have a piece of Complexo do Lins which was armed to the teeth. Most of his favelas were Baixada (Caxias) and it was exactly like I stated. Pistols, shotguns, maybe a couple WWII relics and one AR-15. But that's a lot to somebody with just a. 22. Or a knife LOL. A Fal or HK G3 is going for $60 - $80 k and they aren't going in the hands of just anybody

I've seen cops enter favelas Baixada in just a blazer. Nowhere in ZN is that happening, only Caveiraos. And I'm not sure who said what but 90% of bandidos in favelas don't have a pot to piss in. Everything gets kicked up to the top. Most guys are getting $300-$400 a week and the perk of parading around with a gun during the weekly baile. That's literally what they're risking their lives for. They just want to "tira onda com as novinhas".Once again, thank you for your knowledgeable and illuminating explanations. Your Rio experiences and knowledge continue to serve old and new ISG BMs well.

Now to me, milicianos are the scum of the earth. Sperto is right, they're the spawn of their death squad fathers and uncles who were apart of the dictatorship regime. Brasil became a democracy but those guys still had political ties which protected them and allowed them to flourish. Their main game is extortion in one form or another but they'll happily do murder for hire as well. I did time in Rio and cops / milicianos had their own gallery. I couldn't even tell you how many were over there but it was a lot. I was talking to a bicheiro (jogo de bicho boss) who slept in the bunk in front of me and remember him telling me there were cops there that he knew for a fact had committed over 100 murders. And this was from a guy who dealt with dirty cops on a daily basis. They were basically his enforcers / security. Rio is a trip when it comes to crime. It's like an onion, every time you peel back a layer there's more, more, more. .Couldn't agree more. Brazil Nut, that is most definitely quite the experience and history you bring to the table. .

As I've said before things aren't as black and white as some would like to think.

Foot soldiers and "alleged / suspected" criminals in the favelas, most often don't get arrested and the benefit of the doubt. Just a bullet to the head and dirty police acting as judge, jury and executioner. Basically political fodder and low-hanging fruit.

Now will the real "thugs", "criminals" and "gangsters", please stand up...please stand up...please stand up?

Sperto

05-24-21, 07:12

They just want to "tira onda com as novinhas"... I did time in Rio and cops / milicianos had their own gallery.True, the young bandits usually get popular among the local novinhas.

I stayed in one of the Zona Sul comunidades during several years. In the beginning when there were peace there only used to be some old bandits with antique weapons. When CV took over and TCP entered the neighbouring comunidade it became very tense. Much more armed bandits. Later when UPP settled in the middle it got even worse. Usually the bandits are quite calm and polite when they know that you're living there. The problem are the new young guys who want to show off. Young guys, often high on dope, armed with big guns which they don't know how to use and very nervous.

The bandits had a deal with the UPP police. The police didn't enter some areas without telling the bandits before. Strange seeing armed bandits in one corner and 150 metres away some PMs eating icecream or acai. Very unpleasant waking up at night with machinegun fire outside in the alley, knowing that the brick walls are no life insurance. Just grab my GF and roll down on the floor.

Isn't that a bit rare that they let you spend time together with locals? I spoke with a fellow countryman who spent time in Bangú, drug trafficking. He told me the gringos had their own "wing" and that it was quite decent. São Paulo even has a prison just for gringos, Penitenciária de Itaí. Interesting that 70% of the 1165 prisoners are Nigerians.

Vagabundo1

06-08-21, 17:16

Bombeiro militar.

To contrast with the general butt nekid look carrying the AR from another Brazil thread, see the policia civil probably with a AR and a automatic pistol chatting with the bombeiro militar (khaki, to distinguish with the grey of the bombeiro civil. Which is why the grey cargo pant, the uniform of the bombeiro civil, is a neutral, recommended form of dress.).

Papi Muy Rico

08-09-21, 16:46

Good morning gentlemen. I want to raise a couple issues about safety and money matters while in Brasil.

First, I haven't been in Brasil since before the Pandemics so How is the safety / security situation right now? Is there a lot of robberies, muggings, street scams going on? Has the economic crisis affected the security situation?

Second, when you move around, how you protect your money? You carry a wallet? You put your money on your shoes? You carry a credit card as an emergency back up? Where do you put it?

What do you carry as an ID? Carrying your passport around is pretty silly. If you get robbed (like I was in 2000) you will face a nightmare trying to get a new or temporary passport from your consulate: You'll have to travel to wherever is located during business hours (imagine if you get robbed or loose it during weekend or extended holidays), produce copies of your passport, get photos, pay fees (if the criminals left you with any money) and hope that you get a simpathetic consulate employee who may give you a harder time than necessary. I wouldn't want to experience that again.

What I do is take a photocopy of your passport front page, Brazilian visa and entrance stamp to a cartorio (legal offices the Brazilian bureaucracy uses for everything legal) to get them notarized. With that notarization you can leave your passport in your hotel safe.

It is important to emphasize that you are most vulnerable when you arrive at the airport and go into the city: you have all your money and belongings with you and there is no way around that. I carry a money belt under my pants where I put my passport, credit cards and money. I leave some money and 1 credit card in my wallet in case the worst happens, the bandidos will have some couple hundred, a credit card and leave me alone happily without any harm.

That's a reason why is important to choose a safe, well know taxi company. I prefer Uber since the drivers are investigated and you can see their feedback.

Third, I always use the hotel safe. However, do you think is really safe? Do we have another options?

I'd appreciate somebody in Rio can give an assessment of the safety / security on the ground. And the state of the favela-police wars.

Yossarian

08-09-21, 21:25

ManchesterLad1

08-10-21, 05:25

Best beach in Rio to swim and not get annoyed by too many vendors.

Clean water and beach obviously.

I do not enjoy too many aggressive vendors like I experienced in Cartagena Colombia so I would like to avoid that if possible.

Is all above possible in Rio?

Xpartan

08-10-21, 07:16

Good morning gentlemen. I want to raise a couple issues about safety and money matters while in Brasil.You can order a passport card for like $30, and if you lose it you lose it, no biggie. My wallet with a passport card was stolen in Sosua once, but I still had my passport.

For safety purposes in Rio, I carried about $30-40 in reals and one credit card. When I'm on the hunt, I take more, but not more than I might actually need. Never had a problem but if I did, I'd just hand them to them. Get a cheap phone too and leave you iPhone in your hotel room.

Uber is fine, but are they more secure than official cabs? I doubt it.

On arrival, I wouldn't carry anything valuable in a suitcase that I put in the trunk. All my money and valuables are with me inside the cab. And I try to take as little cash with me as possible (Schwab for ATMs).

A hotel safe is not 100% safe. But a thief with a master key is unlikely to steal everything. They might steal one bill rather than the whole wad hoping you won't notice. Last thing they want is a pissed off gringo.

And you don't need a visa to Brazil anymore.

HIH.

Nordico

08-24-21, 19:40

Second, when you move around, how you protect your money? You carry a wallet? You put your money on your shoes? You carry a credit card as an emergency back up? Where do you put it?

What do you carry as an ID?A family member, who is really good with sewing machine, made me these small pockets in my trousers. They are somewhat larger than a credit card and secured with velcro. I can put two or three credit cards and 6-7 bills in it. Then I have my Bullhide money belts, which are not cheap, but the quality is excellent. https://www.bullhidebelts.com/collections/money-belts.

I always carry my passport with me.

Mr Enternational

08-24-21, 20:48

You can order a passport card for like $30, and if you lose it you lose it, no biggie. My wallet with a passport card was stolen in Sosua once, but I still had my passport.What did you do when you lost your passport card? I lost mine in May. I know I left it with the lady when I applied for Precheck, but she said it was not there. The website is not clear. It seems like I may be canceling my passport and card when I am just trying to cancel the card and get a new one. I filled out everything online but short of pressing enter I did not want to take that risk and said fuck it.

TomJackin

08-24-21, 23:33

I do not enjoy too many aggressive vendors like I experienced in Cartagena Colombia so I would like to avoid that if possible.I can only answer this part. The beaches have vendors, but not nearly as aggressive as the relentless ones in Cartagena! Thus, I did not have any issues with the Copa beach vendors.

Xpartan

08-25-21, 04:10

What did you do when you lost your passport card? I lost mine in May. I know I left it with the lady when I applied for Precheck, but she said it was not there. The website is not clear. It seems like I may be canceling my passport and card when I am just trying to cancel the card and get a new one. I filled out everything online but short of pressing enter I did not want to take that risk and said fuck it.I reported it like the State Dept suggests but never heard back. I know my reporting didn't cancel my passport (never even occurred to me to check) because I've used it several times for travel after that.

Jny88

08-25-21, 06:05

UniversalX

08-25-21, 06:25

What did you do when you lost your passport card? I lost mine in May.Passport Book and Passport Card are two different forms of ID. Both can be ordered at the same time but are not tied to each other. Loss of one does not cancel the other. Passport Card can be used as a form of ID when traveling however it's primary purpose is for crossing land border Mexico / Canada and Sea Ports-of-Entry from the Caribbean / Bermuda only. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html

Due to its credit card size I use Passport Card for ID purposes for all international travel. I tend to find it easier to carry than a laminated copy of Passport Book Page, plus it is an official form of ID.

Since both are not tied to each other if one is loss you can use the other to facilitate acquiring a replacement if necessary. Reporting your passport lost or stolen does not automatically replace your passport. You will need to follow the directions to Replace a Passport https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/lost-stolen.html

Nordico

09-01-21, 17:50

Why so many hidden compartments? Is Brazil that dangerous? Not trying to be funny, I've never been there but highly interested because the women are beautiful.Actually it's only the belt and the pocket in my trousers. I usually bring 3000 euros with me and having the belt I don't have to worry about my wallet and those 60 bills wouldn't even fit there. The second reason is that carrying BRL1000 or more in cash in your wallet is not smart in Brazil. Most of the time I stay in Moema or Jardins, which are relatively safe, but sometimes I go to Bela Vista or Centro and there is always a possibility that someone wants your money. Losing a credit card abroad can ruin your trip. Next month I’m going to stay in Copacabana and it’s not always safe at night time.

Rio Bob

09-02-21, 01:04

Actually it's only the belt and the pocket in my trousers. I usually bring 3000 euros with me and having the belt I don't have to worry about my wallet and those 60 bills wouldn't even fit there. The second reason is that carrying BRL1000 or more in cash in your wallet is not smart in Brazil. Most of the time I stay in Moema or Jardins, which are relatively safe, but sometimes I go to Bela Vista or Centro and there is always a possibility that someone wants your money. Losing a credit card abroad can ruin your trip. Next month Im going to stay in Copacabana and its not always safe at night time.https://www.clothingarts.com/collections/adventure_travel_pickpocket_proof_pants

I have a couple of pairs of these pants. I usually wear them when I'm traveling because everything is secure on me so and I have no worries.

Xpartan

09-02-21, 05:14

Actually it's only the belt and the pocket in my trousers. I usually bring 3000 euros with me and having the belt I don't have to worry about my wallet and those 60 bills wouldn't even fit there. The second reason is that carrying BRL1000 or more in cash in your wallet is not smart in Brazil. Most of the time I stay in Moema or Jardins, which are relatively safe, but sometimes I go to Bela Vista or Centro and there is always a possibility that someone wants your money. Losing a credit card abroad can ruin your trip. Next month Im going to stay in Copacabana and its not always safe at night time.To be honest I WOULD be worried wearing a money belt as nice as the ones on your link. Your friendly Rio mugger might be tempted to relieve your from that belt. Just because he likes the belt, LOL.

Sperto

09-02-21, 06:05

https://www.clothingarts.com/collections/adventure_travel_pickpocket_proof_pants

I have a couple of pairs of these pants. I usually wear them when I'm traveling because everything is secure on me so and I have no worries.Nice-looking pants. I never had any problems with pickpocketing but I'm sure those pants works well in normal situations. However I would never wear pants like that in very crowded situations, E. G Carnival in Salvador, Cordao Bola Preta in Rio. In those situations, more pockets means more thieves interested in emptying your pockets.

For newbies in Copacabana their main problem isn't pickpocketing, it's getting robbed. Extra buttons om your pockets won't help. I prefer to put large bills in a small pouch, attached with a string to my underwear, and stuck the pouch inside the underwear. Small bills in a mini-wallet. The less I have in my wallets the safer I feel.

Jimmy Boy 99

09-02-21, 16:03

A family member, who is really good with sewing machine, made me these small pockets in my trousers. They are somewhat larger than a credit card and secured with velcro. I can put two or three credit cards and 6-7 bills in it. Then I have my Bullhide money belts, which are not cheap, but the quality is excellent. https://www.bullhidebelts.com/collections/money-belts.

I always carry my passport with me.Where do you carry your passport, since it will not fit in the little pockets your sister sewed into your pants? I never carry my passport around. Too many problems if it lost or stolen. Just make a color copy of it and the visa stamp page. If I do have to take it with me for some reason, I put it in the pocket my sister sewed on the inside of the back of my pants just below the belt line (tried to attach a picture of it but was not able to). The pocket is big enough to hold the passport and lots of money and credit cards. Plus it is a lot less obvious than a money belt.

Nordico

09-02-21, 17:05

Where do you carry your passport, since it will not fit in the little pockets your sister sewed into your pants? I never carry my passport around. Too many problems if it lost or stolen. Just make a color copy of it and the visa stamp page. If I do have to take it with me for some reason, I put it in the pocket my sister sewed on the inside of the back of my pants just below the belt line (tried to attach a picture of it but was not able to). The pocket is big enough to hold the passport and lots of money and credit cards. Plus it is a lot less obvious than a money belt.I'm not really worried about losing my passport. I'm pretty sure I would get a new one in two or three days from my country's consulate in Sao Paulo. I keep it in the front pocket of my jeans.

To be honest I WOULD be worried wearing a money belt as nice as the ones on your link. Your friendly Rio mugger might be tempted to relieve your from that belt. Just because he likes the belt, LOL.There are 15 to 20 thousand cell phones stolen in SP every month, but I have never seen any article about stolen belts, LOL. It's possible, of course. I don't have those fancy belts with snake skin, but a simple one that looks like any other belt.

Exec Talent

09-02-21, 19:07

I carry a full water bottle with me and have used it like a club (twice) to break free of muggers. Given the number of trips, length of stays, neighborhoods visited and the fact that I walk everywhere, this is not really a lot. If you come from a country where it is always safe to walk the streets regardless of time of day, you need to adjust your situational awareness. In most cases, if you stay alert you will be fine. Most important is an escape route. If you are in Copacabana on Avenida Atlântica and you walk too close to the buildings, you do not have an escape route. Stay near the street. Once I was coming back from Monte Carlo and muggers surrounded me on three sides. The fourth side was the Windsor Hotel. I ducked into the hotel and called a taxi.

There is good advice here on how to dress, not making yourself a target and securing your money and credit cards. My other advice is to limit your alcohol consumption unless you are in a controlled environment with someone who is not drinking watching your back. Walking the streets alone impaired is like wearing a sign around your neck that says rob me.

Tarado

01-10-22, 16:08

Nounce

01-10-22, 19:34

...Any experience?I have no experience but I can see that you need to change from BRT to Metro which may not be the best thing to do for safety. If you travel light, this may work, otherwise it's work if you don't know where the elevator is or when there is no elevator.

Vagabundo1

01-10-22, 19:52

This is excellent advice.

Water bottle as a (non lethal) weapon is great! And goes with walking.

Thanks.

I carry a full water bottle with me and have used it like a club (twice) to break free of muggers. Given the number of trips, length of stays, neighborhoods visited and the fact that I walk everywhere, this is not really a lot. If you come from a country where it is always safe to walk the streets regardless of time of day, you need to adjust your situational awareness. In most cases, if you stay alert you will be fine. Most important is an escape route. If you are in Copacabana on Avenida Atlntica and you walk too close to the buildings, you do not have an escape route. Stay near the street. Once I was coming back from Monte Carlo and muggers surrounded me on three sides. The fourth side was the Windsor Hotel. I ducked into the hotel and called a taxi.

There is good advice here on how to dress, not making yourself a target and securing your money and credit cards. My other advice is to limit your alcohol consumption unless you are in a controlled environment with someone who is not drinking watching your back. Walking the streets alone impaired is like wearing a sign around your neck that says rob me.

Vagabundo1

01-10-22, 19:55

Sr Nounce is correct as always. I used to hit Rio with a 40 lb or less pack and a 10 lb carryon (5. 11 Rush 24, Moab 10, Moab 6). But I have accumulated stuff, alas.

I have no experience but I can see that you need to change from BRT to Metro which may not be the best thing to do for safety. If you travel light, this may work, otherwise it's work if you don't know where the elevator is or when there is no elevator.

Jimmy Boy 99

01-10-22, 21:31

Hello,

I live in Switzerland, I speak German, my English is not the best (that's the reason I never wrote before.).

(maybe it's the wrong thread, but I didn't wanted to write in the report-thread).

I'm planning to fly to Rio, I discovered coincidentally, that there is a BRT from the Galeo-airport to Tijuca.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransCarioca

An at this station, at.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esta%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Vicente_de_Carvalho_(BRT).

I could take the metro, line 2 to the Centro. It seems to me a cheaper and faster solution than go with taxi, and it should be also safe.

Any experience?There is a public bus that goes from Galeao to Santos Dumont and I believe goes on to Copacabana. Ask at the tourist information counter where to get it. You might also check what Uber will charge assuming you have an account and have Wi-fi. On my last trip a regular taxi driver said he would charge me the same fare as Uber so I went with him, so you might try that too.

Spidy

03-10-22, 22:13

This crime & safety story borrowed from the Rio thread, posted here: http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2672563&viewfull=1#post2672563

O Dia:
https://odia.ig.com.br/rio-de-janeiro/2022/03/6355243-policia-realiza-buscas-por-homem-que-esfaqueou-turista-em-copacabana.html

Watched a few times and I gotta say she's pretty spry and sprightly (also lucky) for have been stabbed five times with a "knife". Begs the question, how sharp was that "knife"?

She also says he didn't want to rob her, but yet he took her cell phone. I thought that was a little bit of an odd statement?

Spidy

03-12-22, 09:10

Yes, but if you watch the video, you can see that when it was all said and done, she still had her phone in the end. Okay, my bad, I didn't catch that she still had her cell phone.

Not exactly the clearest of videos, hence why I said, "I thought that was a little bit of an odd statement?" coming from her. Which kinda, give me pause for thought, when she said, "Ele quis me machucar e isso choca (He wanted to hurt me and it shocks me)."

They want your money, not your life. ... As for SF, I can second that even normal Colombian guys tread carefully. The first time I mentioned it to my Colombian friend his eyes lit up and portrayed a clear sense of extreme apprehension. He warned of its dangers, not being there late at night alone, etc. The place is dangerous and there are only so many things one can do to mitigate risk. ... What's funny about how I read / interpreted this story, was that at the same time, I had just previously read the post by TiaVoyage25 entitled "They want your money, not your life", in the Bogota thread and thought to myself, how correct he is and that the woman's comments in the story were so incongruent with most tourist unfortunate interactions with Rio street thugs, muggers and robbers, with them just rolling up and wanting to "take your life ".

Even though she said, he wanted to "take her life", I interpreted the stabbings as a result of his attempts to get her to release and give up the phone and weren't intended to simply "take her life", as she claims.

IMHO, I think, if he wanted to really take her life, he'd have done so and probably with greater intent.

Spidy

08-03-22, 20:28

... Of course racism exist in Brazil and those with darker skin color suffers more.
Absolutely! In the case of Brazil, it's people of color will ALWAYS tend to suffer more, at the hands of an unjust, racist society and police force.

...However, racism goes both ways. Twice in Brazil I've felt people disliking my "white" color (quite silly to say white as nobody has white skin color, paper is white).

The first time was when I was invited to a birthday party at the home of a girl I was dating when studying at PUC. The girl was one of the few black students at PUC (and as a side note she hade huge natural tits, among the best tits I ever seen). I wasn't really interested to go to the birthday party at her home, but as she was very hot and I wanted to take her virginity I sacrificed myself. Everyone at the party were black upper class people, doctors, dentist, lawyers etc. When my GF brought me to the party everyone were polite but obviously not satisfied with her BF being white and also a gringo. The second time was in Salvador. I met a absolutely stunningly beautiful and tall girl. She was very dark black. This girl also lost her virginity to me and was really romantic and wanted to walk hand-in-hand everywhere we went. She caught a lot of attention when walking on the streets. We walked together during the carnival in Salvador. The majority of the the pipoca were black people. Lots of gangs with thug looking guys. I got a lot of really angry looks from those guys who obviously didn't appreciate a white gringo walking together with a very hot black girl.

Look, no disrespect or am I trying to belittle your encounters with racism. But both your examples are what I would consider, on the lower end of the "racist spectrum" and IMHO, barely registers as racism.

Most foreign men will get "angry looks" or strange menacing looks, when walking in public, down the street hand-in-hand with a younger woman. Especially when they are of a different racial complexion, ethnic background, physical dissimilarities and/or of significant age difference. (As an aside: I always think, many of those same "angry looks" are just looks of jealousy and envy. But that's just me).

If "angry looks", is all you ever get and you've never been physically harmed (and you've said you have never been robbed) then thank your lucky stars.

In contrast, on the other end of the "racist spectrum", is a beating, excessive force, brutality, a killing, murder and death.

Take the example of Mose Mugenyi Kabagambe, a young, newly settled immigrant worker, from Democratic Republic of Congo, who was recently (04-Feb-2022) beaten to DEATH, after he went to petition his employer, to demand R$200 reais (£28) in unpaid wages from the seaside bar where he had worked informally as a waiter.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/04/brazil-congolese-refugee-murder-racism

As the article mentions: "A supreme court judge, Gilmar Mendes, said the deplorable scenes of hatred and barbarity exposed the dangers of intolerance, racism and xenophobia."

Point of notice, the incident happen in "safe" Barra de Tijuca, where Pres. Bozo, owns a home a few minutes walk from the murder scene and coincidentally remained silent on the incident, where the neighborhood thugs in Barra de Tijuca, beat the man to death.

There's a horrible saying in Brazil, that goes: If you don't know if you're black in Brazil, just ask the police"

The Cane

08-03-22, 22:33

Absolutely! In the case of Brazil, it's people of color will ALWAYS tend to suffer more, at the hands of an unjust, racist society and police force. Look, no disrespect or am I trying to belittle your encounters with racism. But both your examples are what I would consider, on the lower end of the "racist spectrum" and IMHO, barely registers as racism.I mean, I couldn't have said it better. He "sacrificed" himself to get some "negra buceta" Really? OMFG! LMBAO! LOLOLOL!

DustyRode

08-19-22, 23:27

Spidy

08-21-22, 19:55

A Brazilian friend of mine sent me a warning. She said, "if you go on a date in Brazil, meet at a shopping mall or somewhere in public.

Now they are scheduling a date and when you get there they kidnap you and get you to transfer all your money to them. ".

Has anyone heard of this happening?Good question!

I don't have any personal insight w/r to your question and wasn't aware there was a kidnapping problem, in Brazil and thought that was primarily a Mexican phenomenon.

Just realized it's quite the "cottage industry", complete with it's own celebrity plastic surgeons, to patch kidnapped victims, back together again. Especially their ears. Pretty gruesome!

Apparently a type of kidnapping called "express kidnapping", is making an unwarranted accelerated comeback, given the struggles of many Brazilians during COVID-19.

Wikipedia: Express kidnappings, is a method of abduction where a small immediate ransom is demanded, often by the victim being forced to withdraw money from their ATM account.

Express kidnappings are common in major cities including Rio de Janeiro, So Paulo, Braslia, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Salvador and Recife.

https://gsi.s-rminform.com/articles/theres-an-app-for-that-express-kidnapping-takes-new-form-in-brazil

Kidnappers don't seem to be targeting foreigners (doubt they'd care either way), as far as I can tell, but I've found no hard evidence/data, to back this up.

Something to Consider:

Since these threads are often overlooked, should you still require more input on the subject of Kidnapping, consider posting a brief post in the RJ, SP or General Info threads, saying something to the effect "Kidnapping question in the Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety, anyone with info on the subject...etc"

It's a nice touch to include the link to your post, to make it easier for those wanting to reply here, in the appropriate thread.

Bearsi

08-21-22, 21:03

Good question!

I don't have any personal insight w/r to your question and wasn't aware there was a kidnapping problem, in Brazil and thought that was primarily a Mexican phenomenon.

Just realized it's quite the "cottage industry", complete with it's own celebrity plastic surgeons, to patch kidnapped victims, back together again. Especially their ears. Pretty gruesome!

Apparently a type of kidnapping called "express kidnapping", is making an unwarranted accelerated comeback, given the struggles of many Brazilians during COVID-19.

Wikipedia: Express kidnappings, is a method of abduction where a small immediate ransom is demanded, often by the victim being forced to withdraw money from their ATM account.

Express kidnappings are common in major cities including Rio de Janeiro, So Paulo, Braslia, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Salvador and Recife.

https://gsi.s-rminform.com/articles/theres-an-app-for-that-express-kidnapping-takes-new-form-in-brazil

Kidnappers don't seem to be targeting foreigners (doubt they'd care either way), as far as I can tell, but I've found no hard evidence/data, to back this up.

Something to Consider:

Since these threads are often overlooked, should you still require more input on the subject of Kidnapping, consider posting a brief post in the RJ, SP or General Info threads, saying something to the effect "Kidnapping question in the Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety, anyone with info on the subject...etc"

It's a nice touch to include the link to your post, to make it easier for those wanting to reply here, in the appropriate thread. So far I've seen most crime done on tourists is just a simple grab and dash a cellphone from your hands.

Had a friend said that they took his iphone and they were able to get it unlocked in 30 minutes.

So best to keep your burner phone with minimal data on it they can use to access your accounts.

Brazilians aren't as wild as cartels.

And even cartels don't mess too much on tourists if they don't need to as it brings alot of unwanted heat.

Just saw this the other day actually.

https://uberhumor.com/these-tourists-got-lost-in-cartel-territory-on-the-way-to-cancun-%f0%9f%98%a9-press-unmute

This is a good point to meet in a mall or have them come to your hotel where you have security and are not in danger.

There was also a article posted recently about an american judge who got two GPS to come to his hotel room and two guys dressed as police men came to shake him down and kidnapped him for ransom.

So always do your due diligence and listen to your gut feelings.

Combo

08-22-22, 01:28

Diverging from the racism aspect, this is a noteworthy point that a lot of mongers don't realize. If you're a foreign guy (and they can almost always recognize this regardless of color / race), the locals guys generally don't appreciate you fucking "their" women. Would you appreciate if a bunch of foreigners showed up in your city giving girls a month's salary (for them) to bone? As you said, it's mostly jealousy, but a lot of them would be happy to relieve us of some of our riches.

Absolutely! In the case of Brazil, it's people of color will ALWAYS tend to suffer more, at the hands of an unjust, racist society and police force.

Look, no disrespect or am I trying to belittle your encounters with racism. But both your examples are what I would consider, on the lower end of the "racist spectrum" and IMHO, barely registers as racism.

Most foreign men will get "angry looks" or strange menacing looks, when walking in public, down the street hand-in-hand with a younger woman. Especially when they are of a different racial complexion, ethnic background, physical dissimilarities and/or of significant age difference. (As an aside: I always think, many of those same "angry looks" are just looks of jealousy and envy. But that's just me).

If "angry looks", is all you ever get and you've never been physically harmed (and you've said you have never been robbed) then thank your lucky stars.

In contrast, on the other end of the "racist spectrum", is a beating, excessive force, brutality, a killing, murder and death.

Take the example of Mose Mugenyi Kabagambe, a young, newly settled immigrant worker, from Democratic Republic of Congo, who was recently (04-Feb-2022) beaten to DEATH, after he went to petition his employer, to demand R$200 reais (28) in unpaid wages from the seaside bar where he had worked informally as a waiter.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/04/brazil-congolese-refugee-murder-racism

As the article mentions: "A supreme court judge, Gilmar Mendes, said the deplorable scenes of hatred and barbarity exposed the dangers of intolerance, racism and xenophobia."

Point of notice, the incident happen in "safe" Barra de Tijuca, where Pres. Bozo, owns a home a few minutes walk from the murder scene and coincidentally remained silent on the incident, where the neighborhood thugs in Barra de Tijuca, beat the man to death.

There's a horrible saying in Brazil, that goes: If you don't know if you're black in Brazil, just ask the police"

Mr Enternational

08-22-22, 03:02

If you're a foreign guy (and they can almost always recognize this regardless of color / race), the locals guys generally don't appreciate you fucking "their" women. Would you appreciate if a bunch of foreigners showed up in your city giving girls a month's salary (for them) to bone? As you said, it's mostly jealousy, but a lot of them would be happy to relieve us of some of our riches.This is BS. What local guys? The local guys you are sitting around in 4 x 4? The local guys that fall through Mabs?

Me and my normal nurse girl just came back from Marechal. You mean the local guys there that we were standing in line with to eat saw me as a foreigner fucking their girl and figured I must be giving her 1 month salary? Come on man. This is an old mongers tale. Nobody thinks this except for mongers. Nobody gives a shit who you are with or why you are with them.

And they most certainly do not see you as being with "their women." And this goes double for chicks you are paying that they have been fucking all their lives for free. Nobody gets jealous that somebody is paying a hooker.

Xpartan

08-22-22, 05:50

Recently was browsing Tripadvisor Hilton reviews. Unlike Colombia's Devil's breath, never heard about something like that happening in Brazil. Don't think this is common, but be careful out there.

My husband and I were looking forward to our very first Carnaval in rio but it all went down the hill right on the 2 day of our stay.
We were victims of drink spiking in the streets of LAPA known in Brazil as "boa noite cinderela". The group then robbed our phones, wallets, money cash, rings and the hotel keys. With the keys they ( 3 of them ) right in the middle of the night ( 3 AM ) went to this HOsTEL walked past the 'securities""concierges"and went to our room. They packed whatever they saw as valuable and left ( 20 min later ) through the front door, and nobody asked them a thing, an ID or anything..In my experience, it's not easy to sneak even a nicely-dressed girl past Hilton's security without a registration. But if those thugs were presentable I can see it happen.

Spidy

08-22-22, 17:03

... Apparently a type of kidnapping called "express kidnapping", is making an unwarranted accelerated comeback, given the struggles of many Brazilians during COVID-19 ...

Boa noite Cinderela. ... never heard about something like that happening in Brazil. Don't think this is common, but be careful out there ...

"Boa noite Cinderela", I haven't heard this particular crime, crop-up in a long time. Like express kidnapping, perhaps what was old is now new again?

Mr Enternational

08-22-22, 18:04

Recently was browsing Tripadvisor Hilton reviews. Unlike Colombia's Devil's breath, never heard about something like that happening in Brazil. How did they know the room number? Were they fool enough to also take the key jacket with the room number on it instead of just the key?

Boa noite Cinderella (although I think they actually meant Sleeping Beauty, but got the characters confused) used to happen a long time ago in Rio, but I have not heard of it recently.

Also I have not heard it happening to a couple in the street. They usually get a single guy alone in his apartment. It also says we. They were able to spike both people's drinks at the same time and it took effect at the same time?

Xpartan

08-22-22, 19:39

How did they know the room number? Were they fool enough to also take the key jacket with the room number on it instead of just the key?

Boa noite Cinderella (although I think they actually meant Sleeping Beauty, but got the characters confused) used to happen a long time ago in Rio, but I have not heard of it recently.

Also I have not heard it happening to a couple in the street. They usually get a single guy alone in his apartment. It also says we. They were able to spike both people's drinks at the same time and it took effect at the same time?Some things from that review do sound strange to me, but they probably did have the card in the jacket, as plenty of people do. Can't be a fake, because judged by the Hilton response, the incident did take place, so they aren't lying, at least about that part. Also when the say "in the streets" could be a figure of speech. Maybe they meant a bar or club "in the streets" of Lapa.

Rio Bob

08-22-22, 20:10

Recently was browsing Tripadvisor Hilton reviews. Unlike Colombia's Devil's breath, never heard about something like that happening in Brazil. Don't think this is common, but be careful out there.

In my experience, it's not easy to sneak even a nicely-dressed girl past Hilton's security without a registration. But if those thugs were presentable I can see it happen.Many years ago when Help was open I always had an apartment on the next corner. It was common then as it is still now the Boa Noite Cinderella. I had a girl come into my apartment, I made drinks maybe I went to the mens room and left mine unattended but when I entered the apartment I pulled the key from the double bolt lock unbeknownst to the girl and hid it so nobody was leaving unless they had the key. We proceeded to foreplay and I fell out like a rock, very unusual for me. Next thing I remember was waking up the next morning with a splitting headache and she was wide awake, looked like she was coked up, she told me she wanted to leave and she couldn't because there was no key LOL. Nothing was taken but I was so shot I couldn't remember where the key was so I couldn't let her out we were both stuck in the apartment. I called the maid / manager who lived 1 hour outside of Copa and told her I'll pay for a taxi to come to Copa and let us out, she did, I found the key 3 days later in the safe.

They all take stuff from the apartment, shampoo, lighters, cork screws, cigarettes, condoms etc but never got anything of value including money. Recently I was partying to 8 in the morning and fell out, she went through everything in my apartment but didn't take anything, she never found the money and if she did it was pretty secure, the next day she told me she went through everything in my apartment. Best approach to this is to hide the key and they can't take anything but remember where you put it.

Sperto

08-23-22, 09:48

Boa noite cinderela is nasty. You should always keep an eye on your drink. I've met several gringos who got robbed by GPS (and some times their BFs) using boa noite cinderela. Recently I saw a brazilian documentary about women who told they put some stuff (I forgot the name) on their breast. They told guys to lick their nipples and the victims passed out. I also remember another scary reportage done with GPS and TVs in Lapa. One HIV positive traveca told the reporter that he used to look for gringos partying in Lapa, slip them a boa noite cinderela. Then helping them to a nearby motel where the gringo got robbed and sometimes f*cked in the ass.

UniversalX

03-12-23, 04:47

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2797094&viewfull=1#post2797094

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2796874&viewfull=1#post2796874.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2796951&viewfull=1#post2796951.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2796957&viewfull=1#post2796957.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2797029&viewfull=1#post2797029.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?2192-Rio-de-Janeiro-Reports&p=2797042&viewfull=1#post2797042.
This was a targeted hit not anything for general tourist to fear. The victim even had an ankle monitor.

Java Man

06-04-23, 22:38

I'm seeing more homeless and beggars in Rio now. And the Beggars are more brazen. They come up to you more often. They're watching when you're buying something, (for example, at a kiosk, or an open suco shop,) and approach you when you get your change. Last week I saw a guy get his phone snatched. He was sitting at one of those ubiquitous sidewalk restaurant bars. Dude came up and snatched it from his hands and took off running. I'm wary of sitting on the sidewalk at those places. But even sitting inside is no protection from the beggars. Last week, a female beggar walk inside and asked me for some change. WTF. Be aware of your surroundings, and keep your head on a swivel.