- Title: Two killed in major security operation in Rio de Janeiro
- Date: 5th August 2017
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 05, 2017) (REUTERS) ARMY SOLDIERS AND AN ARMOURED VEHICLE PATROLLING STREET LEADING TO A FAVELA NEIGHBOURHOOD SOLDIERS WALKING ALONG ROAD STREET SIGN FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD WHERE A RAID WAS HELD POLICE CARS IN THE STREET VARIOUS OF SOLDERS SEARCHING VEHICLES RESIDENTS WALKING UP STREET BECAUSE ROAD IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC SOLDIERS SEARCHING RESIDENTS AS THEY WALK DOWN ROAD CLOSE-UP OF SHOPPING BAGS SEARCHED BY SOLDIERS RESIDENTS WAITING WITH THEIR CARS FOR ROAD TO REOPEN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FAVELA RESIDENT, CECILIA MENDES, SAYING: "What do you think is important? The security we live without?" TRUCK DRIVER, GILSON DOS SANTOS, STANDING NEAR HIS TRUCK (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) TRUCK DRIVER, GILSON DOS SANTOS, SAYING: "They break the trucks. They steal the radios, money and it's traumatic. Those of us with more experience are used to it, but there are people who get traumatised by this and some drivers give up their jobs because of what's going on in Rio de Janeiro." DOS SANTOS STANDING NEAR HIS TRUCK WAITING FOR ROAD TO REOPEN NEWS CONFERENCE WITH BRAZILIAN JUSTICE MINISTER, TORQUATO JARDIM, AND RIO DE JANEIRO'S SECURITY SECRETARY, ROBERTO SA (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN JUSTICE, MINISTER TORQUATO JARDIM, SAYING: "There is a logistical and financial suffocation in what's called organised crime. That's where we will start to win the fight against organised crime, with logistical suffocation." MILITARY AND SECURITY OFFICIALS DURING NEWS CONFERENCE BRAZILIAN JUSTICE, MINISTER TORQUATO JARDIM DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RIO DE JANEIRO'S SECURITY SECRETARY, ROBERTO SA, SAYING: "Often times, people encourage cargo theft when they knew they are getting products that come from criminal activity, yet they still buy it." GENERAL OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 19th August 2017 20:31
- Keywords: gangs raid Rio 2016 arrests slum crime drugs favelas Olympics violence police and military operation
- Location: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- City: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SVQ7NN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At least two people were killed, three arrested and 15 arrest warrants served on Saturday (August 5) in a massive security operation in Rio de Janeiro to tackle crime in the Brazilian city.
The operation was the second phase of an integrated strategy that was supported by army soldiers. According to reports, nearly 5,000 troops were mobilised for road checkpoints near troublespots in the city's northern and western suburbs close to favela slum neighbourhoods.
Members of the army backed up local police entering the Complexo do Lins favela as well as other areas where drug and criminal activity is prevalent. During the operations, confrontations with authorities were reported culminating in the deaths of two and authorities seizing heavy arms such as grenades and guns.
A target for authorities is merchandise theft but with the black market commonplace in Rio, consumers also play a part in keeping organised crime in the city profitable.
No end date has been set for the operation with the country's Justice Minister Torquato Jardim reporting a wait and see approach on the strategy's success. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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