Brazilian militias
In Rio de Janeiro and other cities of Brazil, police militias are clandestine paramilitary groups made up of current and former police officers which carry out both vigilante and organized crime activities. In the favelas where the authorities have effectively lost control, drug gangs like ADA and Red Command often reign supreme, openly selling drugs and carrying weapons as well as acting as the de-facto authorities, building infrastructure and enforcing their own brand of law and order. Police-backed militias force out the drug traffickers, only to set up their own protection rackets, extorting residents and taxing economic activities[1].
The militias have their roots in the death squads of the Brazilian military dictatorship. Because of their close ties to the police force, the militias also enjoy the support of certain politicians.[2] The militias are also involved in far-right politics, and have been accused of the murder of outspoken critic Marielle Franco[3].
In popular culture
- Corrupt police militias are the subject of the 2010 film Elite Squad: The Enemy Within.
- The Crachá Preto, a fictional far-right paramilitary group with ties to the police, are the antagonists in the 2012 video game Max Payne 3.