Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, who was unharmed, had been returning to his hotel from the Olympic cycling road race, when he was threatened with a knife and forced to hand over cash and a mobile phone.


The incident took place near the minister’s hotel on Ipanema beach.


The two robbers fled the scene after taking the valuables but one of them was intercepted by locals, who handed him over to the police. The Minister's belongings were all recovered.