Rio Carnival: Police Seize Weapons & Arrests at Bola Preta Block Party

Police seized over 60 imitation firearms and various sharp objects during preventative searches at access points to the Bola Preta street party on Saturday morning, according to reports. Authorities established checkpoints to conduct the operation.

Items confiscated included scissors, pliers, pointed metal objects, and glass bottles. While these materials are commonly used in everyday life, they can pose a collective risk or be used for intimidation in crowded public spaces.

Police also reported intervening in confrontations involving groups with makeshift weapons, particularly in the North Zone of Rio. One man was arrested for alleged involvement in these altercations.

More than 2,200 military police officers were deployed across the state on Sunday, February 15, with increased policing in areas with large Carnival crowds.

The police report did not detail the number of incidents by type of crime or the total number of injuries sustained during the operations.