Drug trafficking in Brazil

                       Attention drug trafficking is not illegal practice!

Drug trafficking in Rio is connected directly to the three largest gangs in town: Comando Vermelho, Terceiro commandoand Amigos dos Amigos.

Everything indicates that the smuggling began in Rio in the years 1980, when some slum dwellers began to sell cocaine. As if by magic, those who were poor have become rich and powerful. The routine of drug trafficking has become commonover the years. More and more people were attracted by the benefits associated with it, such as money, power and recognition. Today, insecurity and fear make people linked to traffic practically do not leave the slum. They know that the way of the illegal drug trade often leads to prison or to death.

Life in trafficking is a vicious cycle. The lack of opportunity, plus the chance to earn money, often results in entry into acriminal faction. The attraction starts in childhood, when children are seduced by motorbikes, money and the girlfriends of traffickers.

Many children enter the world of traffic without even noticing. Engage with people linked to the crime, take notes inside theslums and end up turning what dealers call "little planes". Is the first rank in the hierarchy of the drug trade. Once inside thetrafficking cycle, it is difficult to leave. Drug trafficking generates a dependency like drug use. The power, the recognition,the insider information, the hierarchy, the rules and the fear of death are difficult to leave.

Many children grow up in this way until they become teenagers. In any social class adolescence is a rough patch. It's a timeof identity construction, when you start to learn who you are for a low-class teenager, who lives in a racist society and elitist,everything becomes more difficult. He feels ignored, invisible and often rejected. Trafficking ends up filling that gap.Enhances these kids, put them in a group where are noted and respected. The teenager becomes protagonist, producesreactions in people, someone becomes visible. For many, entry in the world of drug dealing is a desperate attempt to buildan identity.

These young people live with the reality of trafficking and learn the rules within this system. After "little planes", grow andtake on new positions, see "rocket boys". Stay on top of the favela and shoot Fireworks when they come to the police, areScouts for the traffic.

The next step is to work inside the crack house (place where the drug is sold) and turn the Assistant Manager. Thus, they experience the day-to-day drug money, earn enough money and begin to be respected within the group. When the head of the mouth is dead, one of those boys assumes the sale of drugs and is fully involved in the trafficking. But many do notbecome Manager of mouth, because before that die in clashes with police or rival factions. If they manage to escape thegunfire, sometimes end up dead in disputes within the gang.

The network hierarchy is highly respected within the traffic. Are made within the routine rules, which do not need to bewritten to be obeyed. The owner of the point is the big boss and control an entire network of "employees", each with their own responsibilities. Everyone knows that the rules need to be fulfilled, not to generate consequences as expulsions orexecutions.

In the absence of Government, the faction is the greatest power within the slums. She not only resolve disputes and punishcrimes, but also provide for the needs of everyday life, how to promote the baile funk and build improvements. The factionseduces the population into the traffic, offers favors to the community. The residents end up resorting to traffickers to help solve serious problems.

Today the money earned in trafficking is smaller than before. The insecurity of the slums, the wars between rival factionsand tuition fees that need to be paid to corrupt cops have decreased the profits of drug dealers.

A study done by the Ministry of Finance of the State of Rio de Janeiro in December 2008 estimated that trafficking in Rio (marijuana, cocaine and crack) invoice between 316 and 633 million reais a year, but profits around 130 million. Betweenthe high costs of drug dealers, are the logistics supply, self-protection and losses arising from police seizures. It is estimated that there are expenses of between 121 and 218 million reais a year with orders for weapons and the purchase of products.

Over time the traffic has also become more dangerous. The criminal factions today have a great armament. They are increasingly violent, and the rivalry between them is causing constant wars. The struggle for power and the dominance of the territory has made many victims in a horror scenario that terrifies residents.

The population of the community lives in fear of violence, power requirements are imposed, the bullets per.

Judicial penalty:

Small amount:

First offense: not less than 5 years. and no more than 40 years. If death or serious bodily injury, not less than 20 years. or more than life. Fine of not more than $ 5 million if an individual, $ 25 million if not an individual.

First offense: not less than 5 years. and no more than 40 years. If death or serious bodily injury, not less than 20 years. or more than life. Fine of not more than $ 5 million if an individual, $ 25 million if not an individual.

Large quantity:

First offense: not less than 10 years. and not more than life. If death or serious bodily injury, not less than 20 years. or morethan life. Fine of not more than $ 10 million if an individual, $ 50 million if not an individual.

Second Offense: not less than 20 years, not more than life. If death or serious bodily injury, to life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $ 20 million if an individual, $ 75 million if not an individual.

2 or more offences carried out: life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $ 20 million if an individual, $ 75 million if not an individual.