Berkley Center

When some people think of Rio de Janeiro, they think of the beaches. Some think of Carnival, the world-famous celebration filled with samba and brilliant colors. Some just think of samba, or maybe Christ the Redeemer looking over the city. Others think of violence, crime, and drugs. Sadly, there is an overwhelming presence of the latter that dominates the lives of thousands.

The slums of Rio, known as favelas, are poor neighborhoods scattered throughout the city. Originally home to former slaves with no formal property, favelas have become a hub for Brazilians from all over the country who are seeking better socioeconomic opportunities. The cost of living is cheap, the people are welcoming and friendly, and there are hardly any government officials present to bother you. There are, however, serious problems facing Rio’s poorest neighborhoods.

Because of the lack of governance and control, the favelas are home to some of the largest drug cartels in the world. Some are able to reel in over $50 million each year in drug sales. Drug lords control the business of cocaine and marijuana, and they often host baile funk parties where the drugs are sold. In fact, baile funk is a genre of music that has become nearly synonymous with Brazil’s favelas. Although the drug lords have a zero-tolerance policy for crime within their favelas, the punishments that criminals face are incredibly violent and often lead to death. For this reason, some inhabitants leave the favelas to steal from other citizens.

After speaking with a few residents of favelas, I’ve found that the decision to enter the life of crime is often driven by economic motivations. The drug trafficking trade promises hope because it offers benefits and security that people cannot receive by other means because of the lack of government presence in the favelas.

I heard one story of a particular drug gang member who chose this lifestyle because he needed funding for a medical operation on his stomach. The drug lord offered to lend him assistance if he joined the gang after his recovery. His only other choice was to die from the disease, so he sold his soul. It is sad to think that he is probably not the only person in such a position.

In order to create a safer atmosphere ahead of the upcoming World Cup and Olympics in Brazil, the government has started to clean up its cities. BOPE, a specially trained military force, has begun infiltrating several favelas in order to pacify them. They are attempting to eradicate drug crime by maintaining a stronger presence of military police in the area.

During my time here in Rio, a milestone has been reached that seems to shine a light at the end of the tunnel. Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio, holds over 100,000 people and is strategically located between the two wealthiest neighborhoods of the city. In an area close to the university in which I’m studying, the head drug lord was kidnapped during the night. A couple of days later, 3,000 police managed to occupy and control Rocinha in about 90 minutes. Drug gang members were either arrested or forced to flee, and now police are successfully sustaining a presence in the community.

In the wake of this event, I’ve observed two major reactions. On the one hand, international students were filled with simultaneous fear and excitement as we watched to see what would unfold. What caught me by surprise, however, was the fact that locals hardly reacted to the police crackdown. I spoke with several people, and they all gave me the same response: “It doesn’t matter because the cartels will all be back after the World Cup and Olympics.”

Unfortunately, this seems like a very plausible concern. Pacification is only a short-term solution to a deep-rooted problem. Why isn’t the government more involved? Why doesn’t it provide children with basic education or create jobs for the favelas’ inhabitants? Drug trafficking is a question of survival for many of these people, so crime will simply continue, and the drug lords will return to their business unless the government takes steps to help these communities. After the World Cup and Olympics, what motivation will the authorities have to pacify the favelas?

Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a dim light that will soon go out if well-intentioned, long-term resolutions aren’t pursued.