Temer argues for permanent security across Brazil's borders

President Michel Temer defended constant police operations to combat crimes at Brazil's borders. When speaking to representatives from five countries that form borders with Brazil, the president suggested the establishment of a "strategic plan" to reduce crimes in places where drug dealers take advantage of the "porosity" of Brazilian borders.

Chancellors and ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are meeting in Brasilia to discuss security and the fight against cross-border crimes, like drug trafficking, smuggling, and arms and human trafficking. During the meeting's opening, the president signed a decree creating the Integrated Border Protection Program and suggested that the text shall be taken by the South American authorities as the "first concrete measure" from discussions.

Temer pointed out the "severity" of the issue and declared that the criminals do not know the limits. According to him, threats to public security have become complex because of the development of a sort of "globalization" of transnational crimes. The Brazilian president cited problems like chemical dependency and human trafficking.

When noting the initiatives developed in recent years by the Brazilian government in police operations to combat drug trafficking and arms transport, Temer warned that this kind of action should be permanently developed.

"A little different from the previous border plan that was episodic, and that the action was reported at the moment and, of course, the crime was solved. Perhaps the solution, and this is a proposal that I leave to be discussed, is to find ways and means to have constant operations, as long as it is clear that this is not a transitional operation, so we have to move forward and channel all our energies against transnational crimes," said Temer.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta