The Brazilian government has officially promulgated the Agreement on Police Cooperation Applicable to Mercosur Border Areas, an instrument that will allow member countries' security forces to carry out pursuits and joint operations beyond their territorial limits. The measure was formalized with the signature of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and published in the Diário Oficial da União (Official Gazette of the Union).
The agreement, originally signed in 2019 during a meeting in Bento Gonçalves, has the adherence of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The framework establishes mechanisms for police forces to act in a coordinated manner in border zones, facilitating the capture of suspects attempting to escape justice by crossing from one country to another. Interventions must be carried out with prior information exchange and under the supervision of the competent authorities of the state where the operation takes place.
In addition to cross-border pursuits, the agreement provides for joint investigations, coordinated patrols, shared surveillance, and greater cooperation in intelligence, technology, and training, with the aim of strengthening crime prevention and combating in border areas.
Brazilian authorities consider this integration essential to tackle the advance of criminal organizations operating in the region, especially those linked to drug trafficking, arms trafficking, smuggling, and other transnational crimes. The measure takes on particular relevance in strategic sectors such as the Triple Border between Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina, considered one of the most sensitive areas for regional security.