Operações Interagências envolvendo meios navais: O emprego de mergulhadores da Marinha do Brasil em Operações Interagências

Abstract

ABSTRACT Interagency operations involving naval assets: The employment of divers in the Brazilian Navy Interagency Operations Brazil, with its vast extension of jurisdictional waters and an economy highly dependent on maritime trade, faces significant security challenges, especially in combating international drug trafficking. More than 80% of global goods are transported by sea, making merchant ships prime targets for criminal organizations seeking to evade inspection and carry out illicit activities. In this context, national ports have become strategic points for international drug trafficking. The complexity and sophistication of criminal organizations’ operations, which use innovative methods such as concealing drugs in ship hulls, demand a coordinated and integrated response from Brazilian authorities. This research aimed to analyze the use of the Brazilian Navy's diving teams in joint operations for conducting underwater searches in merchant ships at the ports of Santos and Rio Grande. The study also highlights the importance of joint efforts between the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service, the Federal Police, and the Brazilian Navy in combating this crime, as well as exploring the legal framework that assigns these institutions the responsibility to deal with. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources, along with interviews conducted with the divers responsible for coordinating the diving operations at the ports studied. Data analysis revealed that the interagency operations involving Navy of Brazil's divers resulted in a significant increase in drug seizures over the years, contributing substantially to national security. The effectiveness of these operations underscores the need for continuous improvement of tactics, diving techniques, operational procedures, and collaboration among the involved institutions. The Brazilian Navy's divers play a central role in underwater inspections of suspect ships, highlighting the relevance of these interagency operations for national security.