Brazilian military launches anti-narcotics operation in Rio

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The Brazilian Army and Rio de Janeiro Police have launched a vast anti-narcotics operation here, Army spokesperson Col. Roberto Itamar said. The operation on Friday took place in the favelas (shanty towns) of Vila Alianca, Coreia and Vila Kennedy, where an army sergeant and a military police commander were killed this week, Xinhua news agency reported.

The police and army blocked all access points to the favelas, backed up by armoured vehicles and helicopters. Itamar said that this operation had been planned before the federal intervention signed by President Michel Temer on February 16 to take over public security in the city. Vila Kennedy is one of the first social housing projects in Latin America.

It is one of the neighbourhood in Rio with the highest number of shootouts, having seen at least 13 clashes between police and drug traffickers in January.

Armed forces have carried out at least three large-scale military operations in Rio since last week. General Walter Braga Neto was named by President Michel Temer to oversee all police and army forces in the city. The intent is to reduce the crime wave in Rio, which saw over 5,000 shootouts and close to 7,000 murders last year.

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