(Newser)
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Upwards of 2,000 members of the Brazilian police and military, backed by armored vehicles and helicopters, swept through Rio's biggest slum before dawn today, in the biggest anti-gang action since last November, reports the AP. But unlike the previous raid, which was precipitated by a rash of gang violence, this time authorities were able to plan their operations carefully, and there was little violence. They also captured the city's most-wanted drug trafficker during Thursday preparations for the raid.
Today's raid concentrated on the Rocinha slum, the mountainside home of more than 100,000, and a thriving drug center due to its location between several of the resort city's richest areas. "The pacification of Rocinha means that authorities have closed a security loop around the areas that will host most of the Olympic and World Cup activities," said a security consultant.
