Police squeeze drug gangs in Rio’s favelas

Police in Brazil backed by 800 troops and armoured personnel carriers continue to squeeze the armed drug gangs holed up in Rio’s sprawling slums.

Following Thursday’s raid on the Vila Cruzeiro community masked gang members hot footed it to the neighbouring favela of Complexo do Alemao.

Authorities claim they are poised to take control of the shantytown.

So far the violence has claimed 46 lives after gunmen attacked police stations and torched cars.

This resident hopes the crackdown will improve daily life in the favelas:

“I hope of all this is done to benefit us. This is what we are banking on, although we wanted it to happen a long time ago. It is happening now, better late than never.”

The latest wave of bloodshed adds to fears of the city’s suitability to host the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, despite the backing of the sports authorities.

As many as 22,000 security officers are involved in the operation to quell violent drug crime in the city of close to 12 million inhabitants.

Copyright © 2012 euronews