The major deterrent to a sustainable economy in Brazil is the prevalence of crime. Brazilians who want to feel safe often leave the coastal cities such as Sao. With Brazil stuck in what may be its worst depression on record, the homicide rate in Rio de Janeiro climbed by 20% in 2016 from the previous year. Brazil's moribund economic state is held prison due to the surge in crime and violence. Brazil's economy will not improve until a dictator takes over the government and deals with the criminals, and presents an atmosphere conducive to an economic resurgence and utilization of its resources both material and its people.

The level and frequency of crime in Brazil has a major impact on the work and life of the community. Violent crimes (murder, armed robbery, carjackings, assaults, kidnappings) are a frequent occurrence. Opportunistic street crime, pickpocketing, purse snatching, smash-and-grab thefts from vehicles and storefronts) is a constant concern. Organized crime is controlled by major drug gangs, operating mainly in the favelas and in the prison system. The crime in Rio’s favelas is certainly a product of organized crime, mostly centered on narcotics trafficking. In Rio de Janeiro, a favela pacification program” was begun by the state government to bring favelas under government and police control and have occupied over 30 favelas to date (mostly in the southern area). There have been recent instances of large-scale gun battles in/around the favelas during some of the police operations. In 2016, there were incidents of specific targeting of police officers by criminal elements in certain favelas. The majority of the city’s drug-related crimes are based upon

The drug trade and persons addicted to illicit drugs commit street assaults, robberies, to support their addictions. Brazil's homicide rate is 30-35 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. In São Paulo, robbery, assault, burglary, and theft are concerns have made life in that city unsafe. Their criminals are organized, and sophisticated. All neighborhoods in the city of São Paulo are susceptible to crime. Several Brazilian states suffering from gaping budget deficits. The state government, which has struggled to pay police, doctors and teachers.

Brazil continues to rank among the most pervasive cybercrime environments worldwide. Brazilian cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, stealing billions of dollars annually despite government efforts to stop malicious activity online. The banking sector has been the primary target of these operations, and anecdotal information suggests insider access. However, cybercrime also affects daily Internet users, private sector organizations, Endemic attacks on portable point-of-sale systems to obtain the information stored in the magnetic strip of a credit card as it is swiped for payment, requires access to the payment hardware, and researchers note it requires insider access. Incidents of cargo theft, from overland shipments and from storage facilities, occur frequently. Airports inaugurated supplemental security measures, in part to thwart criminal activity targeting aviation facilities.

