Riverine Base changes routine in the community of Antônio Lemos and ensures more dignity for riverside dwellers
For three years, the Base installed in Breves has been essential in combating various crimes in the Marajó Archipelago, and also assists in supporting riverside communities
“I have lived in the community of Antônio Lemos since I was born, and before our reality was harsh. We suffered from violence daily. We couldn't leave the doors of our house open; we had no structure for almost anything. Today, with the arrival of the Riverine Base, our lives have completely changed. We no longer live threatened by pirates, we can leave our belongings outside the house and the windows and doors are always open, not to mention the support we have for transportation in case of illness and assistance whenever we need it. This Base was our salvation, and we are very grateful to the State for looking after our community,” says Maria Lúcia, 82 years old, a resident of the community of Antônio Lemos, in the Breves strait, one of the 17 municipalities of the Marajó Archipelago, in northern Pará.
Maria Lúcia's account reflects the new reality of the riverside dwellers of the Antônio Lemos District, located on the banks of the Tajapuru River, where the first Integrated Riverine Public Security Base, named “Antônio Lemos,” coordinated by the State Secretariat for Public Security and Social Defense (Segup), was installed three years ago, with the aim of ensuring more security on the region's rivers, combating crime, drug trafficking, and the actions of “pirates” (criminals who operate in the river area). Previously, they plagued the community with attacks, thefts, and violence. The strategy of floating bases is part of the integrated public security planning developed by the Government of Pará, aiming to strengthen security in the extensive river network of the State.
Social peace - “The Antônio Lemos Base was the initial step we took for innovation and the construction of effective actions, especially for security on the State's rivers, given that Pará has the most extensive river area in the country. As we usually say, 'the rivers are our streets,' and there is no way to ensure public security without considering this reality of ours, and thus we developed this strategy, maintaining a fixed base in one of the main river routes we have, to reinforce security actions, and above all, to guarantee tranquility and dignity for the riverside populations who had long been asking for this structure, so that social peace and order could also be established in these localities,” emphasizes the State Secretary for Public Security and Social Defense, Ualame Machado.
The Antônio Lemos Base began its activities on June 22, 2022, and since then has been essential in protecting riverside communities, helping to inhibit crime through constant inspections on the rivers and preventive actions against criminal groups that use the Marajó river network as a route for crimes, mainly drug trafficking and environmental crimes.
Proximity - The Base also assists in supporting riverside communities, providing logistical support for transportation to health units, in addition to ensuring donations. All to bring the community closer to the security teams, having them as support and partners.
Elielson de Lima Rodrigues, a merchant in the community of Antônio Lemos, has lived in the region for 49 years. He highlights the assistance actions that security agents offer to the community, in addition to the constant presence of security agents, deterring crimes against residents.
“The arrival of the Base here gave us more dignity. Before we lived worried, as many bad things happened. There were robberies all the time. But now things are different. This government project was a good thing for all of us. It brought us more security, and we count on the help of firefighters and military police. When we need support to get to Breves, they assist us, helping everyone, not just us who live in the village, but everyone here in the area. This has only improved our lives and our businesses,” assures the merchant.
Tânia Margareth, a resident of the region for 60 years, also approves of the presence of the Antônio Lemos Base near the community. For her, the quality of life of riverside residents has improved significantly. “Before, we were awakened by gunfire, and the criminals threatened us, stole our things, we lived in fear. Now we have help all the time. My son can leave his work materials in front of the house and nothing happens anymore. This Base has brought us support and a more peaceful life,” assures the resident.
Reduction of crimes and seizures - After the establishment of the Base in the region, there was a 30.71% reduction in theft crimes, comparing 2021, when 140 theft records were counted, and 2024, with 97 cases. Regarding robbery, the reduction was even more significant. In 2021, 47 cases were recorded, and in 2024, only 12 occurrences, representing a 74% drop in robberies and thefts in the river areas of Marajó.
In three years, more than 5,000 approaches to vessels navigating near the Breves strait and adjacent areas have also been made. More than 20 warrants have been executed and 63 arrests made, with over 3 tons of drugs seized. More than 20 kilograms of illegal fish and 3,754 cubic meters (m³) of wood have also been seized, along with 17 vehicles and 54 weapons.
New base - The Antônio Lemos Base was installed in the Western Marajó region with the aim of increasing inspections in the river network of the region. In three years, the State has also delivered the Integrated Riverine Base Candiru, in the Óbidos strait, on the banks of the Amazon River, addressing the demands of the Lower Amazon Integration Region, in western Pará, one of the main river routes used by criminal groups for drug trafficking, on the border with the states of Amazonas and Amapá.
The Government of Pará will deliver, still this year, the Lower Tocantins Base, installed in the Capim channel, rural area of the municipality of Abaetetuba, near Barcarena, thus covering the main strategic river ports of Pará.
“The Riverine Bases are one of our main security strategies, being recognized, among the other units of the Federation, as an important and efficient equipment for security on the rivers, acting very strongly in combating crime and protecting the riverside population, given the extensive river network of the State, which is frequently used for drug trafficking and other crimes. With them, we are achieving significant drug seizures, as well as intercepting loads of illegal wood and fish, curbing crime and ensuring the safety of communities living near the rivers,” emphasizes Ualame Machado.
