Weapons in the Crosshairs: The Flow of Grenades in Brazil

Incidents involving firearms and grenades are becoming increasingly common, and almost a daily occurrence in Brazil. This situation reflects an escalation in the tactical capabilities of criminal factions, which are actively using high-impact explosives in their operations. High levels of violence and arms trafficking are exacerbated by the alarming number of weapons in the country. The problem is not limited to illegal imports but is also fueled by domestic sources. The "militarization" of criminal groups gives them greater offensive capabilities and a constantly self-sustaining chain of supplies and financial resources, often linked to drug trafficking. To understand these dynamics, the incidents cited throughout this analysis come from the Small Arms and Light Weapons Dashboard, a research resource produced by the Regional Coordinator of Economic and Social Research (CRIES) in collaboration with Florida International University (FIU).