Exclusive footage obtained by TV Globo reveals that militias in Brazil have been using drones as a strategic tool to monitor rivals, plan attacks, and track criminal activities in the Zona Oeste and Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro. The videos, seized by the Civil Police, document armed confrontations, chases, and even fatalities, indicating that technology has become a central instrument in the territorial disputes among criminal groups.

According to police statements, the drones allow militias to detect the location of their rivals and choose optimal moments for their operations within contested areas. This real-time communication capability enhances the efficiency of their attacks and strategic operations, which have become increasingly violent and complex. The delegate, Jefferson Ferreira, underscored the importance of this technology in the ongoing struggle for control over territory by criminal organizations.

One specific video highlights an attack that occurred on February 11 in Manguariba, Paciência, where armed men were captured positioning themselves in a street before being engaged by a rival group. Such incidents demonstrate not only the rising use of advanced technologies by criminal factions but also the escalating violence in areas heavily affected by gang warfare, posing significant challenges to law enforcement and community safety.