Rio de Janeiro’s parliament has approved a controversial “wild west bonus” scheme to reward police officers for “neutralizing criminals,” sparking outrage from human rights groups.

Lawmakers voted 47 to 15 in favor of reviving a 1990s-era policy that previously triggered a surge in extrajudicial killings in the city’s favelas before it was scrapped in 1998.

The new measure, backed by allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro, offers bonuses of up to 150% of salaries for seizing heavy weapons and killing suspects.

Supporters argue it is necessary to combat Rio’s powerful drug factions, drawing comparisons to El Salvador’s tough anti-crime crackdown, The Guardian has reported.

But activists and legal experts warn the law is unconstitutional and will disproportionately target young Black men in poor communities, amounting to a de facto death penalty.

The bill now awaits approval or veto from Rio’s right-wing governor, Cláudio Castro.