[InSightCrime] Rio de Janeiro police are increasingly using helicopters to fire on suspected criminals in what is another representation of the governor’s hardline crime policies.A recent report by Globo has highlighted the increased use of the "caveirão voador" (flying skull) by Rio police. The caveirão voador is the nickname given to armored helicopters used by the police for monitoring and increasingly, as airborne platforms to fire into favelas.
Helicopters have been used 86 times in the past year, a more than 200 percent increase over 2017. A large portion of these flights, 38 percent, occurred in the north of the city, mainly focusing on the favelas of Maré and Pedreira. Another major area targeted was the Western Zone of the city, accounting for 25 percent of the flights.