The government of Rio de Janeiro started this Wednesday (19) a new program to occupy favelas in the state capital. The action included police operations in two communities: Jacarezinho (north zone), dominated by drug trafficking, and Muzema (west zone), controlled by a militia.
The Integrated City project harkens back to the implementation of the Pacifying Police Units 14 years ago. According to Governor Cláudio Castro (PL), the objective is to retake these territories with urban and social changes, but he has not yet explained how this will be done.
In total, 1,300 police officers (800 military and 500 civilians), a helicopter, armored vehicles and reinforcements were employed on the expressways of the two complexes, with real-time monitoring from the Control and Command Center, in the center of the city. The teams will remain in the communities indefinitely.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon