Brazil: Travel alerts for the week of October 17, 2010

(October 17, 2010)

Crime in Rio de Janeiro is not news. The city continues to experience a high incidence of crime. Tourists are particularly vulnerable to street thefts and robberies in commercial and tourist areas

Recent attacks by armed drug gang members have been especially brazen. They set up roadblocks and robbed drivers stuck in traffic jams and, in some cases, stole their vehicles. At least 10 of these robberies occurred this month. The incidents resulted in the firing of 19 police commanders assigned to increase security in the area.

Colombian terrorist groups have been known to operate in the border areas of neighboring countries.