Segurança pública e desenvolvimento rural sustentável: um estudo sobre o contrabando de agrotóxicos na fronteira Brasil x Paraguai

Abstract

This thesis addressed the smuggling of pesticides, a recurring practice in border regions, and analyzed its relationship with public security and sustainable rural development. By connecting two areas that are rarely explored together—public security and sustainable rural development—the research presented an innovative approach. It also highlighted the contribution of public security forces in combating illegal trade practices involving these products, with a primary focus on the Brazil-Paraguay border, demonstrating their impact on health, the environment, and border dynamics, which reflects the participation of this sector in sustainable rural development. The research is motivated by the need to better understand the issue, strengthen enforcement, and address the environmental, social, and economic impacts of pesticides, especially those from the illicit market. Although the use of pesticides is widely defended by agribusiness, it poses risks to public health, the environment, and food security, which are exacerbated by the lack of regulation on smuggling, particularly in border areas. This practice harms water and soil, generating liabilities and requiring action from public security forces. Thus, the research emphasizes the role of public security as a promoter of social justice and sustainable development, in addition to discussing the need to integrate preventive and educational measures into rural security. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the study explores the connections between public security, sustainability, and the impacts of pesticide smuggling, employing Ulrich Beck's risk society theory to analyze the challenges posed by technological development and globalization. The main objective was to analyze the illegal trade of pesticides on the Brazil-Paraguay border. The specific objectives include characterizing the effects of pesticides on sustainable rural development, examining public security actions against the illicit market, and describing the potential and limitations of the institutions involved. The justification reinforces the importance of preventive actions and research that promote awareness and sustainability, focusing on border regions and the contribution of public security to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, the study concludes that although public security actions are essential in mitigating the problem, they are not sufficient to resolve it. The increasing demand for pesticides driven by agribusiness, combined with weak legislation, makes this activity attractive to criminal networks that operate on a large scale. Thus, the true solution to pesticide smuggling lies in promoting agricultural practices that reduce dependency on these chemicals. Since smuggled pesticides are not the only threat to the environment and life, this thesis proposes promoting sustainable agriculture as the best strategy to tackle the problem.