Brazilian Military Police backed by Marine troops occupied the massive Maré favela next to Rio de Janeiro's Galeao international airport on March 31, allegedly without firing a shot. The aim was to secure one of the city's most violent districts, long under control of drug gangs, ahead of the World Cup, to be held in Brazil in June. Shock troops of the elite Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) and Marines in armored vehicles and helicopters secured the Maré area, where 130,000 people live in poverty on the north side of Rio. Police said they seized guns and 450 kilos of marijuana, and arrested two suspected dealers. But residents said most gang leaders slipped out the favela ahead of the occupation. The operation had been expected; in preceding days Police Pacification Units (UPPs) were installed in 174 of Rio's favelas— home to around 600,000 people. (InSerbia, April 1; MercoPress, March 31)
Cross-post to High Times
Recent comments
13 weeks 6 days ago
18 weeks 9 hours ago
19 weeks 4 days ago
19 weeks 5 days ago
32 weeks 12 hours ago
37 weeks 5 days ago
48 weeks 5 days ago
49 weeks 4 days ago
51 weeks 1 day ago
51 weeks 5 days ago