Brasília, March 27, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (26), the Minister of Justice, Thomaz Bastos, presented a positive balance sheet of his first 90 days in office. He emphasized the emergency measures effectuated by the Ministry of Justice against organized crime, for example, the transfer of the drug-dealer, Fernandinho Beira-Mar, to the Presidente Bernardes maximum security prison.

In Espírito Santo, the Integrated Security Cabinet was created, and, in São Paulo, the Minister is working with the governor, Geraldo Alckmin, to work out public safety activities. Bastos underlined the provisional executive order signed by President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva to double the size of the Federal Police and create 500 new federal prison guard posts. (DAS)