Brazilian Army Caves in to Favela’s Drug Dealers

The Brazilian Army withdrew Monday, March 13, from several Rio de Janeiro favelas (shantytowns) after having failed in recovering sophisticated weapons stolen from the Armed Forces by drug dealers.

"We concluded the first phase. From now on we will have specific operations, not a general deployment, with the purpose of finding the weapons", said Colonel Fernando Lemos spokesperson for the operation.

The withdrawal of the 1.600 soldiers equipped for urban anti terrorist warfare who occupied the favelas for ten days was celebrated with shots fired to the air by drug dealers and the applause and booing of residents who complained about the Army’s heavy hand.

The operation in ten of Rio’s most notorious favelas was ordered following the theft from the Army’s headquarter in Rio of several rifles and pistols. The Army on orders from a Military Judge moved in with infantry, armored vehicles and helicopters.

The Army has vowed to return as many times as necessary until the weapons are found because it has become a "question of honor".

During the ten days occupation soldiers were challenged by drug traffickers with some exchange of fire. The Army reported no losses but it’s believed that several civilians were killed and wounded in the shootings.

The operation included blocking off several poor neighborhoods in an effort to quash drug dealing, a business that in some of the occupied areas rakes in as much as US$ 150 million per month, according to official estimates released by the Rio media.

The head of Public Safety for Rio de Janeiro state, Marcelo Itagipa said in an interview on CBN radio that the local slum dwellers’ apparent rejection of military action can be attributed to "a well-armed minority that imposes its will".

The Army Central Transportation Base was attacked March 3 by seven masked individuals in military uniform who easily overcame soldiers on duty and took the weapons from a storage room.

Mercopress – www.mercopress.com

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazilian Finance Minister Says Government Scandal Will Not Taint Economy

Brazil’s Minister of Finance, Antonio Palocci, declared that there is no question in the ...

In Brazil, Agribusiness Is Down But Meat Exports Are Up

Meat exports rose 10.7% in Brazil, in January, compared with the same month of ...

Brazil’s Scandal du Jour: National Election Board Gets Phones Bugged

The president of Brazil’s National Election Board (TSE), minister Marco Aurélio Mello, is mad ...

Brazil’s Açaí­ Makes Further Inroads Among Health-Minded Americans

US-based Caffe Classico Foods  announced that it is going to start selling its Belizza ...

Brazil and Neighbors Get UN Money to Monitor Birds Flying South

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed a US$ 500,000 agreement with ...

Brazil’s CVRD to Explore Coal in Africa

Brazil’s Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) informs that it was declared the winner ...

March in Brazil Urges Better Housing and Sanitation

Brazil’s National Urban Reform and Cities Rights March, which got underway Monday, August 15, ...

Brazil’s Fashion Fair Makes US$ 132 Million at Home and US$ 11 Million Overseas

Fashion Business, trade fair happening parallel to Fashion Rio, an important fashion show in ...

Brazil’s Indianist Council Charges Government of Lying About Indian Lands

Funai, the Brazilian government agency in charge of Indian affairs, rejected reports from the ...

Sahara Inspires Brazil’s Summer Collection

After serving as the scenery for books and films like The English Patient and ...