International Journal on Criminology Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2018 | Page 38

Territorial and Corrosive: The “jogo do bicho” (Animal Game) and Organized Crime in Brazil
Another impediment to the pursuit of the Bicheiros is that Brazilian justice
is too slow. Operation Furacão took place in 2007, but it was not until 2014 that
the Bicheiros were sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment—and this is only a first
judgement, which may be referred to a higher court, allowing the defendants to
remain at liberty while they await the final verdict. The allegations against magistrates
who were bought by the criminal group are already out of time. The politicians
have not been prosecuted, either because of lack of evidence, the absence of
agreement in Congress, or their parliamentary immunity.
After operating for nearly a century, this mafia entity has had damaging effect
on carioca society’s morale and ethics. Corruption instigated by the Bicheiros
has resulted in even worse issues: police officers who take dirty money from the
game lose their moral bearings and go on to accept money from drug trafficking
and other criminal activities. These “bent cops” confiscate and resell heavy
weapons and drugs to the narcotics dealers in the favelas. The judge who has
been bought by the Bicheiros goes on to receive money to free bank robbers and
white-collar criminals.
The corruption that originated with the Bicheiros in the 1950s has infected
and continues to infect Brazilian morals. Carioca society is used to problems being
sorted “in the Brazilian way”: in Rio, no one any longer believes in the justice
system, the police, or the rule of law. There is a local saying, “Give everything to
your friends, the law is for your enemies.” The corruption of laws, institutions, and
individuals is largely accepted.
That is why the Bicheiros are responsible, perhaps indirectly, for the current
climate of fear. They have undermined the basis of civilized society: respect for the
rule of law. Even after the two big judicial investigations, the Bicheiros retain their
image as successful businessmen, admired by the public. As in Mexico, if you ask
a kid from one of the regions controlled by the drug cartels what he would like to
do when he grows up, he will reply without hesitation or shame that his dream is
to become a drug dealer.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Legal texts:
. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil.
. Law no. 12528 of 18/11/2011 relating to the creation of the National Truth
Commission.
. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and associated
protocols, United Nations, New York, 2004.
. Framework decision 2008/841/JHA of the European Union Council on the Fight
against Organized Crime.
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