PUBLIC HEALTH AND SECURITY AT THE BORDERS: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARANÁ MILITARY POLICE IN CONTROLLING ANABOLIC DRUG SMUGGLING

Abstract

The smuggling of anabolic steroids and synthetic hormones from Paraguay into Brazil, especially through the tri-border area in Paraná, represents a growing challenge to public security and collective health. The geographical, social, and economic vulnerability of the region facilitates the entry of these products, which circulate through clandestine routes with broad participation of structured criminal organizations. The Paraná Military Police (PMPR), through the Border Police Battalion (BPFron), regional battalions, and the State Highway Police, has acted intensely in repressing this illegal trade, utilizing technology, overt patrolling, and integrated operations with other agencies such as the Federal Revenue Service and Health Surveillance (Brasil, 2022) The documentary study between 2018 and 2025 reveals a significant increase in seizures, evidencing the escalation of trafficking and the operational complexity faced by the PMPR. The presence of multiple unofficial crossing points, known as a "porous border," and local socioeconomic inequalities enhance the clandestine circulation of anabolic steroids (ANVISA, 2022). Considering the public health damages caused by indiscriminate use of these products, qualified repression and institutional integration are fundamental. The PMPR stands out not only for containing the flow but also for dismantling criminal networks, with preventive and educational actions as complementary tools. Therefore, strengthening human, technological resources and interinstitutional cooperation constitutes an essential measure for effectively combating smuggling, reducing its sociocultural and sanitary impacts in the Paraná border region.