In the Midst of the Fight Against Crime in the Amazon

You have so far been on an internship in Manaus in Amazonas, Boa Vista in Roraima and now in Rio. Can you tell us a bit about what your internship involves?

My internship consists of several different parts with the Brazilian Army's War College. I participate in various aspects related to research on security issues in Brazil. It can be everything from contributing to research on organized crime, which I'm doing here in Rio de Janeiro and to some extent did in Manaus, but also with a focus on migration as in Roraima. Going forward, I will also make study visits and get to be an observer during exercises and learn about how planning and work is done in these environments, but also take a course in national defense, borders, and migration.

Your first two weeks in the Amazon sound intense. What was the most striking thing about accompanying the military and the researchers?

The most striking thing was really that I got the opportunity to participate at all. It was incredibly valuable, both on a personal and a professional level; I am extremely grateful that I got to be part of the group that traveled there. We got to do several types of visits to different parts of the Brazilian armed forces, where each unit is focused on different areas. For example, there is a unit that focuses solely on jungle warfare, and getting to learn about their challenges and work was very educational. For instance, they participate in the fight against organized crime, which includes the illegal trade of exotic animals, and therefore also have a rehabilitation center for animals they manage to save.

Even though technology, such as drones and other things, has made things easier, technology has also helped organized crime.

Participating in briefings with the intelligence service seems unusual. What picture did you get of how they combat organized crime in a region as complex as the Amazon?

I am personally very interested in organized crime linked to illegal gold and illegal gold mines, and this is a huge problem in the Amazon from several aspects. It involved a lot about how intelligence and surveillance are carried out in the hunt for these sites, but perhaps above all about how extremely difficult it is to work with these aspects in such a vast and inaccessible area as the Amazon. The picture presented to me was that the challenges the different actors face are enormous and difficult to manage.

You mention that the military also works with supporting the indigenous population and during natural disasters. Did you see examples of these efforts?

It was mostly about how the work functions and how they assist the indigenous population in connection with various emergencies. Since few have the same capacity as the Brazilian armed forces, it is important to show that they can support and help when needed, even in the most inaccessible areas.

It was the first time I found myself in a refugee camp, so it was very special...

Then you went to Roraima and the border with Venezuela. How would you describe the situation in the refugee camp?

That's correct, I visited Boa Vista, which is the state capital of Roraima and the border with Venezuela. It was the first time I found myself in a refugee camp, so it was very special. The situation is very difficult for everyone connected to the border and the refugee camp, and it is also extremely sensitive. I was there together with my supervisor, who is a professor of migration, and a student from the war college. We got a tour of the camp and information about the process when Venezuelan refugees arrive in Brazil. It is an enormously difficult job, with several heavy and ethical aspects to consider.

You also visited the headquarters of Operação Acolhida. What impression did that organization make on you?

Operação Acolhida [Operation Welcome] is the name of the Brazilian armed forces' large operation to manage the refugee crisis, it is managed from Boa Vista. There I got a tour of how it is centrally managed, and also participated in interviews conducted with responsible persons from different parts of the operation.

What is the biggest difference between the work in Rio compared to in the north?

My work in Rio is considerably more theoretical; here it's about more theoretical digital where I, for example, learn mapping programs to be able to build maps that can show things like smuggling routes and other things related to my research. In the north. It was more about participating in the field and being involved in all the practical work that happens. I will make one or two more trips during my time here, so I look forward to gaining more field experiences.

With all this unique experience under your belt, what is the most important lesson you are taking with you so far?

I am first and foremost incredibly grateful that I have had the chance to work and research with experts in the subjects I myself am interested in. It's difficult to point to one specific lesson, but it was important to get to see how authorities and organizations work with different aspects and the enormous job they do. As I described earlier, the Amazon is an extremely difficult region to manage as it is, but when you add the established and widespread organized crime, you get an extremely difficult situation from many aspects. There are so incredible opportunities in the region, but so many limitations precisely because of the criminal presence.

Adam Nordström, 29 years old, was born and raised in Norrköping. His academic career began with a Bachelor's degree in Global Studies at Linköping University, a program that gave him a broad foundation for understanding international issues. Currently, he is in the middle of a Master's program in Latin American Studies, an education that he is now getting practical sustenance for during his time in Brazil.
 

Related:
Bachelor Programme in Latin American Studies

Latin American Studies, Practice/Fieldwork

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