SAO PAULO – Brazil is using more than 20,000 troops along its borders with 10 South American nations to reinforce security ahead of the Confederations Cup soccer tournament in June.
The Defense Ministry says in a statement that 25,000 army, navy and air force troops began deployment on Saturday along the nearly 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles) of border Brazil shares with its neighbors.
Planes, helicopters, and patrol boats will be used to stop drug trafficking, arms smuggling and other crimes, as well as the entry of illegal immigrants during the June 15-30 World Cup warm-up tournament.
Calls to the Defense Ministry for more details went unanswered on Saturday.
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