There have never been so many pistols exported from the USA to Brazil. The United Nations Comtrade website shows shows that $4,7 million were spent to buy 14,120 pistols in 2020, most recent data, more than any year since 1989, when the database starts, a trend that has started in 2018, when exports to Brazil went from US$ 71,000 a year to US$ 1,5 million. The increase was mainly due to changes in the rules on access to weapons promoted in the year that President Jair Bolsonaro was elected, in 2019.
US revolver and pistol exports to Brazil skyrockets
after president Bolsonaro eases gun ownership rules
Exported
weapons
20 K
15 K
10.7 K
Gun ownership
rules change
10 K
4.5 K
Bolsonaro is
elected
5 K
0
2019
1990
2018
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA Request
US revolver and pistol exports
to Brazil skyrockets
after president Bolsonaro
eases gun ownership rules
Exported
weapons
20 K
10.7 K
Gun ownership
rules change
15 K
10 K
4.5 K
Bolsonaro is
elected
5 K
0
2019
2018
1990
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA Request
This trend can also be seen on the illegal market. Data obtained through a FOIA request with the Brazilian Federal police shows that the USA and Austria have manufactered almost half of seized illegal weapons.
USA and Austria are the countries of origin for most of the
foreign seized weapons in Brazil
Data is from 2013 to 2021
United States
Austria
Turkey
Argentina
Czech Republic
Italy
Germany
Israel
Croatia
Belgium
Russia
Spain
Mexico
Serbia
China
Philippines
Romania
Montenegro
Hungary
Bolivia
0
400
800
1200
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA request
USA and Austria are the countries of origin for most of the
foreign seized weapons in Brazil
Data is from 2013 to 2021
United States
Austria
Turkey
Argentina
Czech Republic
Italy
Germany
Israel
Croatia
Belgium
Russia
Spain
Mexico
Serbia
China
Philippines
Romania
Montenegro
Hungary
Bolivia
0
400
800
1200
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA request
These are the most common seized weapon types and brands, according to the data sent by the authorities.
Revolver is the most common seized weapon
from other countries
Revólver
Fuzil
Espingarda
Rifle
Carabina
Metralhadora
Não definido
Escopeta
Artesanal
Mosquete
Garrucha
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA
Revolver is the most common seized weapon
from other countries
Revólver
Fuzil
Espingarda
Rifle
Carabina
Metralhadora
Não definido
Escopeta
Artesanal
Mosquete
Garrucha
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA
Glock is the most common foreign weapon
seized by the Brazilian Federal Police
Glock
One out of for foreign weapons
seized by the Federal Police in
Brazil is a Glock
Smith & Wesson
Canik
Colt
Beretta
Cz
Girsan
Ruger
Winchester
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA request
Glock is the most common foreign weapon
seized by the Brazilian Federal Police
Glock
One out of for foreign weapons
seized by the Federal Police in
Brazil is a Glock
Smith & Wesson
Canik
Colt
Beretta
Cz
Girsan
Ruger
Winchester
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA request
Most weapons were seized by the Federal Police in the state of Paraná, where criminal gang activity is high, mainly in Foz do Iguaçu, a city that borders Paraguay.
Paraná leads in weapon seized by the Federal Police
Foz de Iguaçu city (state of Paraná),
on the border with Paraguay,
makes the state have
the highest number of guns seizures
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA request
Paraná leads in weapon seized by the Federal Police
Foz de Iguaçu city (state of Paraná),
on the border with Paraguay,
makes the state have
the highest number of guns seizures
Source: Brazilian Federal Police / FOIA request