The U.S. approved a controversial sale of sniper rifles to Brazil’s elite police unit BOPE, which was later involved in a deadly raid that killed 121 people.
According to reports from Reuters and other outlets, the U.S. government authorized the sale of 20 sniper rifles manufactured by Daniel Defense LLC to Brazil’s BOPE (Special Police Operations Battalion) in May 2023, despite internal objections from U.S. diplomats who feared the weapons could be used in extrajudicial killings The Star US News.
The rifles were used in a massive security operation in Rio de Janeiro’s Penha slum complex on November 4, 2025, which targeted drug traffickers but resulted in 121 deaths, including four police officers The Star ABC News. Human rights advocates and UN experts have condemned the raid, alleging that some of the killings may have been unlawful The Star Devdiscourse.
The sale has sparked renewed debate over U.S. foreign arms policy, especially regarding transfers to units with histories of alleged human rights abuses. Critics argue that the decision undermines diplomatic efforts to promote accountability and transparency in law enforcement operations abroad.
Sources: The Star US News Devdiscourse ABC News
