BRAZILIAN police have occupied crime-infested slums near Rio de Janeiro's international airport and seaport as part of efforts to drive out drug traffickers ahead of next year's soccer World Cup.
The operation, which began at 4.55am local time (1855 AEDT) on Sunday, involved more than 1300 police and members of the military backed by mechanised units of the Brazilian navy, which entered the favelas of Caju and Barreira do Vasco and seized control of their narrow streets.
So far, authorities have not encountered any resistance from residents of the townships whose combined population has reached about 20,000. And they were quick to declare victory.
"The operation has been a success," military police Colonel Frederico Caldas told O Globo television. "This very important, strategic area was taken without firing a shot."
For years, the favelas have been a stronghold of drug-trafficking gangs that held sway over the area and terrorised the local population.
Now, the local residents have cautiously welcomed the operation that they hope will help restore law and order.
"I think this is all good," said a 77-year-old woman, who lives in Caju but remains reluctant to reveal her name for fear of retribution on the part of the criminals. "I hope now we will have more security," she told AFP.
According to police, their next target will be violence-plagued Mare, an area near the airport largely controlled by drug gangs and militia units.
In 2008, Rio authorities began cleaning up lawless favelas, or slums, one by one, hoping to finish the job before the soccer World Cup of 2014 and the Olympic Games two years later, which are likely to bring to Rio millions of tourists.
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