The United States government approved the sale of sniper rifles to a tactical policing unit in Rio de Janeiro known as BOPE, despite concerns about the unit’s involvement in past operations with high civilian casualties. The arms sale to BOPE was authorized in May 2023, during the administration of President Joe Biden, and cleared for delivery in 2024 after internal debates within the U.S. State Department over potential human rights implications. Documents and diplomatic cables highlight BOPE’s history of controversial operations, which have led to significant civilian fatalities.

This approval comes at a time when Brazilian criminal organizations have increasingly gained access to military-style firearms. A report by a Brazilian nonprofit found that U.S.-origin firearms and parts were the second most common foreign source for weapons seized in criminal activities between 2019 and 2023, behind only domestically manufactured weapons.

BOPE was linked to a particularly deadly raid in Rio de Janeiro, where 121 people were killed, drawing criticism from human rights groups and international organizations, including the United Nations. This raises concerns about the impact of U.S. arms sales on public safety and the use of military-grade weapons by law enforcement agencies with a history of controversial actions.

The growing availability of firearms, both legally and illegally, in Brazil has been tied to weak gun control systems in both Brazil and the U.S. The U.S. is a major source of firearms and components used in the illicit arms trade, with smuggling routes and diversion of weapons contributing to the violence and instability in Brazil.

This situation has sparked increased scrutiny of U.S. export policies for firearms and the role of international trade in the arming of both criminal organizations and law enforcement units in countries like Brazil, where policing practices have raised serious concerns about human rights and accountability.

Sources: AP News, Reuters