BRASÍLIA (BDCi) – In preparation for the 2014 World Cup, which spans 12 cities, Brazil has started deploying some 30,000 troops to patrol its borders and step up security efforts.
Planes, helicopters and river boats filled with army, navy and air force troops will be on the lookout for drug trafficking and other smuggling activities on the country’s 10,500-mile, which borders ten other countries.
Undocumented immigrants can easily gain access into the country because much of the Brazilian border is in the Amazon jungle, making it a hard area for authorities to patrol.
No-fly zones will also be enforced over the stadiums during the 64 matches set to be played between June 12 and July13.
Brazilian authorities say the nation has no enemies and that the risk of a terrorist attack is low. The more likely security threat will be the demonstrations by locals against poor public services, corruption and the overall cost of the World Cup.
By: Diego Díaz Source: Reuters Photo: Getty Images 12 May 2014
9:15 a.m. P.D.T.