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Brazil police arrest alleged drug chief of Rocinha slum | Brazil police arrest alleged drug chief of Rocinha slum |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Brazilian police have arrested the alleged head of drug-trafficking in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro's biggest slum, as he was apparently trying to flee. | Brazilian police have arrested the alleged head of drug-trafficking in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro's biggest slum, as he was apparently trying to flee. |
Antonio Francisco Bonfim Lopes was found in the boot of a car that had left Rocinha, Brazilian media reported. | Antonio Francisco Bonfim Lopes was found in the boot of a car that had left Rocinha, Brazilian media reported. |
His arrest comes amid reports that police are set to move in to Rocinha. | His arrest comes amid reports that police are set to move in to Rocinha. |
Since 2008, police have been occupying shantytowns to oust drug gangs in a bid to make Rio safer ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. | Since 2008, police have been occupying shantytowns to oust drug gangs in a bid to make Rio safer ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. |
The suspected drug chief, widely known as Nem, was arrested after police stopped a car at a checkpoint close to Rocinha. | |
"It's a historic moment in the fight against drug-trafficking in Rio de Janeiro," said Jose Mariano Beltrame, Rio's state security secretary. | |
During Wednesday, some residents of Rocinha left the area, ahead of an expected security operation to crack down on the traffickers. | During Wednesday, some residents of Rocinha left the area, ahead of an expected security operation to crack down on the traffickers. |
Police have been setting up checkpoints at entrances to Rocinha, located in the city's south zone and close to tourist areas. | Police have been setting up checkpoints at entrances to Rocinha, located in the city's south zone and close to tourist areas. |
The shantytown is home to some 70,000 people, according to the last census figures, but is widely thought to have considerably more residents. | The shantytown is home to some 70,000 people, according to the last census figures, but is widely thought to have considerably more residents. |
To date, police have occupied some 20 favelas to drive out the dealers who controlled the areas. | To date, police have occupied some 20 favelas to drive out the dealers who controlled the areas. |
Special forces, known as BOPE, move in to take on the traffickers. Police then establish a permanent base in the favela with officers geared towards community policing. | Special forces, known as BOPE, move in to take on the traffickers. Police then establish a permanent base in the favela with officers geared towards community policing. |
Pacification has been generally welcomed in favelas, where residents have seen a drop in crime. | Pacification has been generally welcomed in favelas, where residents have seen a drop in crime. |
But there have been complaints about the behaviour of some of the troops and police involved, with local people reporting excessive violence or abuse of authority. | But there have been complaints about the behaviour of some of the troops and police involved, with local people reporting excessive violence or abuse of authority. |