Operation Agata 8 will draw on personnel from the Brazilian navy, army and air force, assisted by Federal police, Federal highway police and State-level police forces, together with other Government agencies.

Designed to test borders, the operation will focus on cross-border crimes such as drug trafficking, smuggling and embezzlement, arms and ammunition trafficking, environmental crimes, vehicle smuggling, illegal immigration and illegal mining strips.

Flawless security is fundamental to the success of any sporting mega-event, so the conduct of the operation will be closely monitored far beyond Brazil.

Nonetheless, the Government is treading a delicate tightrope, with tough economic conditions putting it under intense pressure to demonstrate that World Cup spending has spin-off benefits for ordinary Brazilians.

Perhaps because of this, the release announcing the mobilisation from the Brazilian Secretariat of Social Communication (SECOM) also touched on civic and social actions involved in the operation, such as bringing medical, dental and hospital care to areas with a high concentration of poor households.

Members of the Rio de Paz NGO protested at the weekend against the public health care system, something the Brazilian Secretariat of Social Communication is pledging action on ©AFP/Getty Images



According to a so-called "integrated assessment", seven prior Operation Agata expeditions, including one ahead of last year's Confederations Cup test event, have resulted in more than 280,000 health procedures, 57,000 medical interventions and 55,000 dental check-ups and treatments.

Some 9,000 people are said to have been vaccinated and 219,000 medicines distributed.

The Brazilian navy is said to be manning river patrol and hospital ships, UH-12 (Esquilo) helicopters, motorboats, ferries and training vessels.

The army will deploy brigades and battalions from its jungle infantry, mechanised and frontier defence divisions, as well as personnel from the engineering, cavalry, logistics, aviation and communications and electronic warfare units.

Ground forces will also set up highway blockades at strategic points.

The World Cup kicks off on June 12 in São Paulo, with the final in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.