WASHINGTON — Last year, the U.S. government approved the sale of sniper rifles to Brazil’s police force, specifically to a unit known for its controversial methods. This decision came despite concerns from the U.S. ambassador and other diplomats, who feared the rifles could contribute to extrajudicial killings, as revealed by three current and former U.S. officials and documents obtained by Reuters.
The police unit, BOPE, was involved in recent raids in Rio de Janeiro that resulted in 121 deaths, including four police officers. This incident has attracted criticism from human rights activists and experts at the U.N., who argue that some of those killings might have been unlawful.
In May 2023, BOPE secured a surprise purchase of 20 sniper rifles manufactured by Daniel Defense LLC, a company based in Georgia, according to internal documents from the Rio police shared with Reuters. The rifles were not delivered until 2024 due to ongoing discussions within the State Department about whether the sale was appropriate, based on documents from both the Rio police and the U.S. State Department.
Under U.S. legislation, gun exports typically require government approval. While the ultimate licensing is often handled by the Department of Commerce, the State Department takes a significant role in the decision-making process.
Elizabeth Bagley, the U.S. ambassador to Brazil at the time, opposed the sale, as did other diplomats focusing on human rights and law enforcement matters, according to a State Department memo from January 2024 seen by Reuters. The memo described BOPE as notorious for civilian fatalities in Brazil.
Data compiled by the Brazilian Public Security Forum indicates that Rio police, with BOPE being the most infamous unit, committed 703 murders last year.
It remains unverified whether BOPE utilized the U.S.-made rifles in last week’s operations.
Additionally, BOPE acquired a suppressor for the rifles from Griffin Armament, a company based in Wisconsin. However, initial shipments of the suppressor were blocked by the U.S. government, although it remains unclear if they were ultimately sent later on, with indications from the State Department suggesting they might not have been.
A spokesperson from the State Department mentioned that previous administrations’ foreign policies had inadvertently supported the most violent gangs in the area. They pointed out that while Biden’s administration denied crucial defense equipment to Brazil’s security allies last year, they still requested their help for President Biden’s visit to Rio in 2024. The spokesperson emphasized a commitment to equipping partners to combat violent crime for a safer region.
Former President Joe Biden visited Brazil in late 2024 for the G20 summit.
Trump Official Champions Sale
This transaction, costing around $150,000, isn’t BOPE’s first purchase of American weaponry. They previously imported at least 800 American-made rifles, as stated in State Department documents. However, a series of violent incidents involving BOPE over the years have changed the perspectives of some diplomats.
Ricardo Pita, who was the lead policy official for Latin America on the Republican-controlled House Foreign Affairs Committee, was one of the most vocal advocates for the deal, according to two unnamed U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.
Pita now serves as the Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the State Department. In that role, he met with imprisoned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a supporter of BOPE.
Requests for comments from Daniel Defense, Griffin Armament, Rio Police, and the Rio state government went unanswered, as did inquiries directed at the Department of Commerce.
Diplomats Oppose the Deal
During a visit to the BOPE facility in mid-2024 as part of a parliamentary staff delegation, Pita faced criticism from some diplomats who noted the State Department frequently references the Rio police for human rights violations in official communications.
Later that year, Pita lobbied for the approval of suppressors, despite some surprise among officials regarding his dedication to this issue, which seemed relatively minor compared to his broader responsibilities.
Some diplomats at the State Department were in favor of the sale. Those familiar with the arms export process noted that such deals typically receive approval because foreign police forces often acquire weapons from other nations that the U.S. would refuse to sell.
Popular Police Forces in Rio
Despite the controversies surrounding BOPE, their operations are frequently backed by Rio residents frustrated with violent crime, including gang-related activities. A recent national survey showed that 55% of Brazilians supported the police operations, and support rose to 62% among residents of Rio state. According to official data, Rio police lost 55 officers to violent incidents last year.
Nonetheless, independent experts have repeatedly criticized BOPE for their human rights actions, with Rio police consistently highlighted in the State Department’s annual human rights report on Brazil.
The report from 2023 noted a pattern of impunity surrounding police actions in Rio, leading to significant fatalities, excessive force, extrajudicial killings, and failure to provide medical care to injured suspects. The State Department memo from January 2024 pointed to BOPE’s involvement in 23 killings during a single incident in 2022, an event dubbed the “Villa Cruzeiro Massacre,” which swayed opinions among some diplomats against the sale. Moreover, there were worries that the weapons intended for crime fighting could be misused for criminal endeavors. In the previous year, state prosecutors had indicted some BOPE members for connections to an organized crime group known as the Militia, which is involved in extortion throughout the city.
