Rio de Janeiro - Crime & Safety

[Amerioca]

Just got back from Rio. I was stuck in Mandela 1 for about a week. Daily Operacao with the PM, CORE, BOPE, etc. Three PC raided my casa sem papel (warrant) and name tags removed from their vests. They didn't believe I was an Americano until my passport was reviewed. I advised them that the US Consulate and my brother (PF) were aware of my position and status. They STFU, and departed.

At times, I wish I were a regular tourist...

[Poucolouco]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11870016

First off, Lula is right to praise the police and federal armed forces for taking control of the situation and cleaning out the Alemao and Vila Cruziero favelas. It couldn't have been done any other way. I think the military refers to this approach as using a "force multiplier."

Notice Lula takes credit for providing everything governor Cabral asked for. However, as a good politician he avoids any blame for the drug traffic situation having grown to such proportions in the past 10 years, eight of which were on his watch.

A huge number of bandits escaped the night before the assault as the police were amassing forces. Now the authorities believe that many of them escaped through the 2 km long storm sewer that drains out of the favela. Really! I guess the police don't watch many action movies down here.

[Sperto]

Complexo do Alemão was taken yesterday. 2700 police etc took control in less than 2 hours. The majority of the bandits fled. The army will stay there until UPP is ready to install themselves permanently.

I guess Rocinha e Vidigal are the next favelas to be invaded.

[Sperto]

I left Rio a few hours ago and I can tell you that unless you plan, personally in PARTICIPATING in any of the events you are watching, there is no danger. Of course, you don't walk into the Favelas, just like if you go to LA, NY, or any major cities, you stay out of the gang infested areas. The same applies here. With the extra security along the streets it alctually felt safer for me and you could hear gunfire from my hotel. Don't let a few thugs alter your plans. Go out there and enjoy yourself.

I agree that there is no reason to alter plans of going to Rio, but you can't say that there is no danger. What scared the cariocas is that there have been attacks more or less all over Rio.
http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/info/ataques-no-rio/
Rio has always been a bit unsecure to visit. Right now more unsecure than usual. Hopefully the situation will go back to normal very soon.

I'm going to Rio in one month and I hope the centro casas and VM are swarming with lovely ladies from Zona Norte.

[Kid Cisco]

Actually different criminal factions have joined together because of current mayor's attempt of taking favela's under police control.

There is a rumor that on Saturday different criminal factions will attack any commuter in Linha Vermelha and Via Dutra.

My opinion is that the criminals simply have a tad too much human rights here. What is the problem, just surround a favela by favela with armed forces, give anyone 2 hours to get out and then just kill everyone that stays. End of the story.

This is like cancer, its necessary to remove good living tissue in order to get rid of the cancer. Same here. Anyway, there is no innocent in any favela.

This almost sound like the sick mess those clowns over on Fox News love to talk about they always sitting around a table and talking all big and bad about what need to be done and some other country.

And how they should just bomb everywhere and everyone "just because they can" and are war mongers BUT guess what? NONE of them spent a day in boot camp or even shot a gun in their life, they are cowards and only make excuses of how they can't fight a war BUT they want to go to war.

Why not you go and ask to help the police out? Many of those people in the favela's live there and try to do the right thing with many not going to or being able to go to school or have a good paying job this is were they now live, should we go to major inter-city here in the states and just start bombing everyone just because some fool did a crime and then run in there and hide so the whole area should be bomb?

If anything the hate need to be remove in the world it is like cancer that spreads and need to be taking out.

This type of thinking and "mind-set" is why when 9/11 happen you had some people in other countries jumping up in down and was happy.

Please tell me you are kidding?

Kid Cisco

[Voyajer1]

I left Rio a few hours ago and I can tell you that unless you plan, personally in PARTICIPATING in any of the events you are watching, there is no danger. Of course, you don't walk into the Favelas, just like if you go to LA, NY, or any major cities, you stay out of the gang infested areas. The same applies here. With the extra security along the streets it alctually felt safer for me and you could hear gunfire from my hotel. Don't let a few thugs alter your plans. Go out there and enjoy yourself.

I'm monitoring the situation as I'm supposed to return to Rio in now less than 10 days. I took a cursory look at flights to Salvador, Sao Paulo, Recife, Natal, etc as an alternative to going back, but if it gets a little better, there's nothing like Rio, and I'll be back. One of the girls I'm trying to meet off of BrazilCupid.com said she thinks it'll be better in about a week and back to normal in two. I'm not so sure, but you never know.

[Jsm1393]

I'm monitoring the situation as I'm supposed to return to Rio in now less than 10 days. I took a cursory look at flights to Salvador, Sao Paulo, Recife, Natal, etc as an alternative to going back, but if it gets a little better, there's nothing like Rio, and I'll be back. One of the girls I'm trying to meet off of BrazilCupid.com said she thinks it'll be better in about a week and back to normal in two. I'm not so sure, but you never know.

[Bubba Boy]

I have been to Brazil many times and dealt with cariocas from the favelas and to say that all people living in the favelas are bad is just wrong.... that is such a super over generalization. Like everywhere else on earth, we have good and bad people. All some of those people need is a chance to make their lives better.

The above comment is very true, PONTO.

[BootyTapper]

The police are preparing to invade Complexo Alemão very soon.
They are giving the bandits one last chance to give up.

It can't be fun to be a bandit today when they move in with armored cars full of BOPE, paratroopers etc.
Follow the events live:
http://www.vertvonline.org/

I have Globo International uphere in the USA and I read O Dia online couple days a week. From when I saw the incident at the hotel in Pepe, I knew this was not going to be good. Now the last couple days its turned into the same madness Mexico is dealing with fighting their cartels. I just hope they clean this up quickly, FIFA is keeping a very close eye on events down there. I know Lula does not want to lose the 2014 WC and sure Dilma does not want it to be her first major public relations issue she has to deal with in January '11.
I have been to Brazil many times and dealt with cariocas from the favelas and to say that all people living in the favelas are bad is just wrong.... that is such a super over generalization. Like everywhere else on earth, we have good and bad people. All some of those people need is a chance to make their lives better.

[Sperto]

The police are preparing to invade Complexo Alemão very soon.
They are giving the bandits one last chance to give up.

It can't be fun to be a bandit today when they move in with armored cars full of BOPE, paratroopers etc.
Follow the events live:
http://www.vertvonline.org/

[Sperto]

For your knowledge, great majority of the people do not live in favelas.

Actually 30% of the Rio population live in favelas. According to you they all are bandits.

Great majority do not want anything to do with favela people.

Your porteiro, the cashier, taxidriver etc etc, most of them live in the comunidades.

Unlike you, I live in Rio and I can see what is going on in favelas day by day.

Right, I don't live in Rio. However I've spent plenty of time in Rio. I stayed in favelas and the people I met there are the most hardworking, generous and honest people I ever met.

I know a lot of gringos living in Rio. I've seen your type many times. A gringo living in Rio, with only a few local friends and scared shitless of everybody living outside your bairro.

[Perkele]

Everyone living in the favelas are criminals?
Not surprising to hear such a bullsh*t comment from Perkele, who is suffering from favela paranoia.
You should have a forum thread "Discrimination against brazilians".

Unlike you, I live in Rio and I can see what is going on in favelas day by day.

For your knowledge, great majority of the people do not live in favelas. Great majority do not want anything to do with favela people. Uneducated trash. No matter how much you think that your favela fuck is pretty or intelligent.

I was once like many other here, thinking that there are good people in favelas but the truth has come to me too. Living here and understanding the whole concept has been an eye opening experience.

[Exoticspirit]

They better clean the place up before the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

[Bubba Boy]

T502 was extremely quiet last night.. maybe 10-15 girls, 10 guys .. the girls were almost begging...

I was there Tuesday, same deal, very light on GDP's and clients. Ironically the 3 girls that I do there regularly all sleep on site. Maybe have to offer them a wekend pad to stay at ;-)

[Golfinho]

What is the problem, just surround a favela by favela with armed forces, give anyone 2 hours to get out and then just kill everyone that stays. End of the story.

This is like cancer, its necessary to remove good living tissue in order to get rid of the cancer. Same here. Anyway, there is no innocent in any favela.

What do you think this -- the West Bank? where you can just come in, surround the ghetto, and exterminate? its hubris like this that gets people fed up with the american mentality (and that of its 'ally')