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Landing on Water: Air Interdiction, Drug-Trafficking Displacement, and Violence in the Brazilian Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Pereira, Leila

    (Insper, São Paulo)

  • Pucci, Rafael

    (University of Sao Paulo)

  • Soares, Rodrigo R.

    (Insper, São Paulo)

Abstract

We study a Force-down/Shoot-down intervention in Brazil that led cocaine traffickers to shift from air to river routes. Using data on cocaine production, homicides, and the network of rivers in the Amazon, we provide evidence that violence increased in municipalities along river routes originating from Andean producing countries after the policy. We also show that, during the same period, violence in these municipalities became more responsive to cocaine production in origin countries. We document an instance of crime displacement over the three-dimensional space, involving sophisticated adaptations from criminals regarding transportation technologies, with dramatic side-effects for local populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Pereira, Leila & Pucci, Rafael & Soares, Rodrigo R., 2024. "Landing on Water: Air Interdiction, Drug-Trafficking Displacement, and Violence in the Brazilian Amazon," IZA Discussion Papers 17425, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17425
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cocaine; illegal markets; crime displacement; violence; Brazil; Amazon;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • Q34 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Natural Resources and Domestic and International Conflicts

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