Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, has often faced accusations from his opponents that he is lax on crime. | REUTERS

Brasília – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday launched a new plan to combat organized crime as he faces mounting pressure over security, five months ahead of elections.

Brazil's battle with powerful criminal factions has been a point of tension with Washington, and high on the agenda of a meeting between Lula and U.S. President Donald Trump last week.

"Today's event serves as a signal to organized crime, telling them that very soon, they will no longer be the masters of any territory," Lula said in Brasilia.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW