Claw machine games are Rio de Janeiro’s new public enemy
AP | 29 Aug 2024 | David Biller

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rio de Janeiro — already notorious for street muggings, corrupt politicians, ruthless militias and Kalashnikov-toting drug traffickers — has a new public enemy: plushies. Or, more specifically, the joystick-controlled claw machines that dispense them….

Officers seized claw machines, laptops, tablets, cell phones, a firearm and — yes — furry friends. They are investigating whether organized crime groups may be the invisible hand behind the claw…

The fate of the stuffed animals seized Wednesday was still unclear…..

Voters can get stuffed!