Justice minister warns of policing challenges in Bioceanic Route

“I believe this will be an extraordinary step forward for the region’s economy, but it will also bring important challenges for local police forces, and I think this will be one of the topics discussed at the meeting,” the minister said at a press conference in Brasília.

The Bioceanic Route incorporates a segment of the South American Integration Corridors initiative, which is led by the Ministry of Planning under Minister Simone Tebet. The goal is to boost regional trade flows and improve access to Pacific ports.

According to Mr. Lewandowski, while the integration offers clear economic benefits, it will also create “a series of security challenges, because we will have kilometers of highways shared between neighboring countries, and we will have bridges,” he noted.

He said the project would require coordination and the construction of new posts for Brazil’s Federal Police (PF), Federal Revenue Service, and Federal Highway Police, as well as the deployment of police forces from neighboring nations.

The Buenos Aires meeting will also include the signing of cooperation agreements. “Our goal is to make police cooperation and supervision even more effective in combating the threats posed by organized crime along the tri-border area,” Mr. Lewandowski said.

His remarks came during the opening ceremony of the fourth Interpol Meeting for South American Police Chiefs. The event focused on outlining a concrete plan that will define priorities, actions, and mechanisms for tackling transnational crime.

Attendees included police chiefs from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela, as well as senior officials from Interpol, including Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.

Mr. Lewandowski emphasized that defeating transnational organized crime requires joint efforts and resource-sharing, including coordinated intelligence, doctrine, equipment, technologies, and operations among law enforcement agencies.

“I have advocated for improving mechanisms for information exchange among South American police forces. We must work to integrate databases, encourage the sharing of intelligence, and promote coordinated policing actions,” he stated.

The Bioceanic Route was also discussed during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s recent trip to China, where the Brazilian government sought support for the Bioceanic Railway—an initiative that would facilitate grain exports from Brazil through the port of Chancay in Peru.

The Chancay port, financed by China, was inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping last November. A Pacific exit would significantly shorten the shipping time for Brazilian exports to Asian markets.