On 16 March 2025, in Serra (Espirito Santo), four drug traffickers exchanged fire with military police during a patrol in the Novo Horizonte neighborhood. One drug trafficker was killed and the others escaped. Police seized a firearm, portions of drugs, and cash. 1 fatality.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 16, 2025, a gunfight occurred between drug traffickers and military police in the Novo Horizonte area of Serra city, Espírito Santo state, Brazil. This incident, which resulted in one fatality, is assessed as a high-risk event demonstrating security instability in the region.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Serra city is a major industrial city in the Greater Vitória metropolitan area, raising concerns about deteriorating security within the steel and petrochemical industry cluster
• Espírito Santo state is adjacent to Tubarão port, Brazil's major iron ore export port, and regional security instability could potentially impact mineral transportation
• Increased drug cartel activity could serve as an indirect risk factor for regional logistics networks and industrial facility operations
• Possibility of increased traffic controls and checkpoints due to enhanced military police patrols

3) Watch points

• Whether additional drug cartel-related violent incidents occur in Serra city and the Greater Vitória metropolitan area
• Need to monitor security impacts on major industrial facilities and port operations in Espírito Santo state