São Paulo’s Cracolândia registers increase of drug users for 3rd successive month

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The number of drug users that frequent Cracolândia in the central region of São Paulo increased for the third month in a row since April, compared to the same period last year, according to the São Paulo City Hall.

Since March, when the number of users had been falling, monthly increases were recorded. The peak was when in June, when the municipal administration calculated the presence of 722 people in Cracolândia, a number 24% higher than the same month in 2020.

Because of this, since last Friday (July 19), the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) has doubled the number of personnel working in the region. From 80, the number of officers working in the area has risen to 166.

In addition to monitoring the actions of users, the personnel has prevented the erection of tents, a measure established since the mega police operation in Cracolândia in May 2017, which dismantled the structures set up by organized crime.

Since then, however, the tents where traffickers sell drugs away from the eyes of the police have once again become part of the desolate scene of the place.

According to images released by the Civil Police, hidden under tarps and fabrics was Lorraine Bauer, aka the “Cat of Cracolândia”, who was arrested on Thursday (22), accused of leading drug trafficking in the region, selling drugs to users.

According to a note released by GCM, “the existence of the tents makes it difficult or even impossible at times for the cleaning, health, and social assistance teams to act due to the violent actions of criminals who use them.”

Experts attribute the sharp rise in drug addicts to the pandemic and its impact on many residents’ mental health and financial situation in Brazil.