City of God, Guns and Gangs

Mariana van Zeller investigates Brazil’s controversial new plan to wipe out crime, and the criminals themselves, from Rio de Janeiro’s favelas before the country hosts the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. We go into the heart of a crack den, embed with special forces soldiers on shoot to kill missions, and even interview the traffickers themselves, who aren’t going out without a fight.

For decades, Rio de Janeiro’s sprawling favelas (slums) have been under the control of heavily armed drug gangs. But now, the government of Brazil wants to take them back, and reform one of the world’s most unequal and violent cities. The plan is part of a bold new initiative to give Brazil’s most picturesque city a face lift before the world turns its eyes on the country for the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. Correspondent Mariana van Zeller finds out that the traditional rulers of Rio’s favelas are not ceding control without a fight. The government of Brazil has promised to continue its campaign, and provide a blueprint for one of the most pressing and perplexing questions in our increasingly urban world: how to transform, develop and integrate sprawling, often crime-ridden slums.

Rio de Janeiro’s sprawling favelas (slums) have been under the control of heavily armed drug gangs. Now before 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, the government wants to take them back.