Name: Brazil on alert amid fears Venezuelan criminal gangs may cross border
Uploaded: 2026-01-08T01:50:30.595Z
Duration: 2 min 25 s
Description: Brazil strengthens border security amid fears criminal gangs from Venezuela could cross into the country.

Brazil strengthens border security amid fears criminal gangs from Venezuela could cross into the country.

Brasília

The U.S has launched strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along wife his wife.

Venezuela Strikes

Brazil shares a 2,200-kilometer border with Venezuela, with only one official crossing point that is heavily monitored. However, thousands of unguarded paths make the border porous, raising concerns among Brazilian authorities about potential crossings by Venezuelan criminal gangs, especially after recent political instability in Venezuela.

Security forces in Brazil have intensified patrols, particularly in indigenous communities along the border, due to fears that armed militias supporting the former Venezuelan regime may flee into Brazil. Indigenous groups on both sides of the border have increased their own patrols and expressed concerns about being caught in potential violence if refugees or armed groups cross into Brazil.

Brazil on alert amid fears Venezuelan criminal gangs may cross border

A 2,200-kilometer frontier separates Brazil from Venezuela, yet the only official crossing is a heavily monitored highway linking the Brazilian town of Pacaraima to Santa Helena de Wairen on the Venezuelan side. Authorities here inspect every vehicle, but beyond the checkpoint, thousands of clandestine paths cut through vast stretches of empty land. These stone markers are the only thing separating Brazil from Venezuela. That is why it's so easy for people to cross the border. It's an open border. All they need to do is walk down this path, and they're leaving Venezuela and entering Brazil. Until now, Brazil's security forces have mainly dealt with migrants fleeing Venezuela's economic collapse. But recent U.S. military strikes and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro have put Brazilian forces on high alert. Military Police Captain Rosimere Albano says militias may attempt to flee Venezuela if the regime falls. We fear paramilitary groups with criminal records who have been heavily armed to help Maduro stay in power will try to flee the country. The closest and most accessible border is the one with Brazil. We joined one of her units. We're now going to accompany the military police as they patrol the border with Venezuela, especially indigenous communities. There are three tribes on both sides of the border. A Venezuelan indigenous ranger tells us political turmoil has changed how they patrol their land. We used to patrol every five hours. Now it's nonstop. In the Brazilian indigenous community, the same fear is felt. We're feeling nervous. If there is political violence in Venezuela, our brothers across the border will rush here to seek refuge and we'll be caught in a crossfire. From above, the border looks calm, but on the ground, tensions run high. Monica Yanagieff, Aljazeera, Roraima, Brazil.

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Brazil on alert amid fears Venezuelan criminal gangs may cross border

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Venezuela Strikes