Policemen arrive to take part in an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo de Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Policemen arrive to take part in an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo de Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A policeman stops a man on a motorcycle during an operation against drug traffickers in the Complexo de Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A man is searched by police during an operation against drug traffickers in Complexo de Alemao slum, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A policeman frisks a man at the entrance of the Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Policemen take position during an operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A truck and a car allegedly set on fire by drug traffickers, are seen at the Brasil Avenue, one of the most important ways in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Policemen run to take position during an operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A policeman tells residents to take cover during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo de Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Policemen aim their weapons as they cover from shooting during an operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Two women react as they take cover from shooting lying on the floor during a police operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Policemen take position during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo de Alemao slum in Rio de Janeiro.
Policemen patrol during an operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A police officer rides a motorcycle past a vehicle set on fire during riots at Rio Comprido shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Residents walk past motorcycles allegedly used by drug traffickers as they lay on the streets at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
A woman runs past policemen taking positions during an operation against drug traffickers in the Complexo de Alemao slum, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military armoured vehicles carrying police and navy soldiers raided the heart of gang strongholds, chasing gunmen into nearby shantytowns. At least 23 people have been killed in clashes since Sunday, most of them suspected drug gang members, and police arrested more than 150 people in raids on nearly 30 shantytowns in the northern and western parts of Rio. Photo: AP
Published Nov 26, 2010
Share
Police searched homes and secured the perimeter of a Rio de Janeiro shantytown on Friday that has long been a stronghold for drug gangs and a symbol of the their ability to rule vast areas of the seaside city with impunity. About 80 federal police officers joined state police in door-to-door searches in the Vila Cruzeiro slum as 800 military troops, trained in surrounding and isolating conflict areas, stood ready to back them up. The area had been taken by law enforcement just hours before during a five-hour operation using armored vehicles and assault rifles.
Slum residents, streaming out down steep, narrow alleys to jobs in the city below, had mixed reactions as officers approached them. Some ran away, and others stayed to welcome and cooperate by showing their identification.
