Armed Forces leave Rocinha, police stay

The 950 thousand agents of the Brazilian Armed Forces engaged in the cordon around the favela of Rocinha, in south Rio de Janeiro, have left the area. The departure started in the early hours today (Sep. 29) and ended at 8 am. Half an hour later, the Special Operations Command of the Military Police set up an advanced base to be used to spearhead operations against drug trafficking in the country's biggest favela.

The agents will stay in Rocinha indefinitely. The deployment of the Armed Forces in the favela had been requested by the Rio de Janeiro state government Luiz Fernando Pezão in order to put an end to the clashes that broke out on September 17 between rival drug traffickers led by Rogério Avelino da Silva, also known as Rogério 157, and Antonio Bongim Lopes, or Nem.

From inside the Maximum Security Penitentiary of Rondônia, Nem ordered his confederates in the favela to reclaim control over it.

The drug dealer was outraged with the decision made by former partner Rogério 157 to raise the price of the liquefied petroleum gas cylinder by over 30 percent and introduce a weekly charge for local shopkeepers and residents.

During the week in which the Armed Forces took part in the crackdown, 24 rifles were seized, 24 people arrested, and two minors taken under custody. Two people died in conflicts with the police in the period.

The most recent death took place yesterday (28) at around 10 pm, when a group of criminals attacked police agents conducting routine patrols through the streets and allies of the favela. William Lopes de Oliveira, who was carrying a pistol, was shot in the crossfire.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira