Rio Sets New Year's Eve Security Plan With Checkpoints, Facial Recognition and Timed Metro Access

Overview

• The state says more than 28,700 personnel across police, firefighters and other agencies will be deployed, including 3,500 officers assigned to Copacabana.
• Police will field about 300 patrol vehicles with facial-recognition and plate-reading systems, plus drones and observation towers feeding the Integrated Command and Control Center.
• Entry to Copacabana’s beachfront will run through designated checkpoints with metal detectors and recognition cameras, while four 20‑officer patrol units modeled on Salvador’s carnival operate inside the crowd.
• The celebration includes a 12‑minute fireworks show launched from 19 barges and a drone display, adjustments introduced to avoid the smoke issues reported last year.
• Transport plans feature MetrôRio’s R$15 digital Réveillon passport with timed QR‑code boarding and a return wristband, alongside staged road closures and bus hubs, as Niterói closes access to Icaraí and deploys 477 military police plus 413 order agents for shows expected to draw about 400,000 people.