In certain neighborhoods, the “Wonderful City” of Rio de Janeiro resembles more of a warzone than a tourist attraction. For years, the city’s unique terrain has been fought over tooth-and-nail by a selection of rival drug gangs, with the added element of armed urban militias, and pushback from the militarized and heavy-handed police.
The city is made up of four main regions: the largely peaceful historic city center and the swanky millionaire’s playground of Zona Sul, home to the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Gang activity exists in these regions, largely directed at selling drugs to rich neighborhoods.
Leaving the center, however, is where things become extremely complicated. The populous north zone and extensive west zone are littered with poor communities that are dominated by a selection of warring gangs, with conflicts over territory and police operations a common recurrence.
As a result of an Access to Information Law request, public data agency Fiquem Sabendo got its hands...
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