UPI, 8/9/2012
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 9 (UPI) — Brazil is testing border security with large-scale military maneuvers along borders with Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay amid increased concerns over international smuggling of drugs, people and weapons and other organized crime.
Middle-class prosperity has raised demand for illicit drugs and drawn economic migrants from neighboring countries, an endemic threat that has emerged with greater severity, officials said.
A combined military exercise by Brazilian armed forces and police launched this week is focused on the country’s borders with Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. At least 9,000 troops from the three services are taking part in the exercises that involve light attack aircraft, drones, armored cars and naval vessels.
[...] poverty; but while poverty eradication has promoted incredible benefits for society at large, the financial freedom of the emergent middle class has caused an influx of drugs into Brazil, thus indirectly causing Brazil’s security apparatus to become increasingly vulnerable. With these [...]