'Drug Trafficking Slum' Returns to Downtown São Paulo

08/28/2015 - 09h17

Symbol of drug trafficking in the central region of São Paulo, the plastic tents are back to "Crackland".

The return of this well-known landscape happens less than four months after the last joint operation with Fernando Haddad (PT) and Geraldo Alckmin's (PSDB) administrations to remove the tents.

According to the municipality officials, drug dealers and addicts sell and buy crack cocaine under these tents, also known as "little slum".

This time, in addition to the black plastic, another object became part of the scenario: a row of sunshades can be seen in the middle of the street. Under them, there is drug trafficking and addicts light up the pipes.

The new "little slum" is located one block from the old one.

After few visits, Folha has learnt that the occupation has been growing since August 7.

Folha came across the cars of the Metropolitan Civil Guard in all the "stream" surrounding areas - name given to the agglomeration of people who sell and use crack cocaine in this region.

The military police are in fixed bases further away and make sporadic patrols, unlike what happened at the time of the operation, when they kept their cars in the region.

The municipality had removed the old "little slum" at the end of April. It was on a plot of land in front of one of city's landmarks, the Júlio Prestes train station.

Municipality agents used to clean the area thoroughly three times a day. They removed and later pitched the tents after cleaning them, a scene that can be seen again in the new address.

The action was planned for months, after the Urban Safety Secretariat noted the tents were hiding the drug trafficking. Another strategy was choking the flow of people.

Two days after the attempt, the agglomeration of addicts migrated to the square next to it, but without the tents.  

At the time, the city's administration celebrated the results. According to it, the flow had been reduced, since some addicts left the region or joined the rehab program that provides housing in hotels at the neighbourhood called "cracolândia", in case they want to get rid of the addiction.

São Paulo State Government and the municipality say they keep permanent operations to arrest drug dealers in the region and reduce the use of drugs.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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