To Live and Die in a Rio Gang War

Summary

Away Days Podcast: Reporting from the Underbelly Episode Summary: "To Live and Die in a Rio Gang War" Release Date: July 14, 2025

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Introduction: Navigating the Favelas

In this gripping episode of the Away Days Podcast, host Jake Hanrahan delves deep into the tumultuous world of Rio de Janeiro's favelas. Titled "To Live and Die in a Rio Gang War," the episode offers a raw and unfiltered exploration of the violent undercurrents that define these communities. Accompanied by documentary filmmaker Louis Hollis and local insights from Diogo of the Luta Livre Gym, Jake provides listeners with an immersive firsthand account of life amidst gang warfare.

Setting the Scene: A Day in the Favela

The episode opens with Jake and his team navigating the intricate maze of a favela during a sudden rainstorm. The overwhelming contrast between the lush jungle surroundings and the stark concrete structures paints a vivid picture of the environment they are reporting from.

Floz (00:06): "This is the other side of the favela. Basically, everything here, even down to the sewage, is all makeshift."

As they traverse up to the hills, crossing a bridge over an open sewer duct, the grim reality of inadequate infrastructure becomes palpable.

The Duality of Government Presence

Jake discusses the absence of formal government support in the favelas, highlighting how local gangs effectively fill the void, governing through a mix of intimidation and community oversight.

Jake Hanrahan (01:47): "The favela is truly stuck between a rock and a hard place."

Louis Hollis adds depth to this perspective by comparing the "favela government" to Brazil's broader political landscape, notorious for its corruption and inefficacy.

Personal Accounts: Voices from the Ground

The episode features poignant testimonies from individuals directly affected by the gang conflicts. Notably, Jake recounts the tragic loss of key figures they had previously met:

Jake Hanrahan (02:00): "One of the cell leaders we met, you'll remember his name as Fat Sexy, was shot dead by police in a shootout in the favela one morning last summer."

Louis Hollis further elaborates on the pervasive violence, mentioning another young resident whose life was brutally ended by rival gangs.

Experiencing the Favela: Perspectives from Louis and Diogo

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to a candid conversation between Jake, Louis Hollis, and Diogo. They reflect on their experiences and observations within the favela:

Diogo (04:49): "It was easy to get in once we had the access and the permission, but without that, you're getting shot."

Diogo describes the sense of impregnable control that gangs exercise over the area, emphasizing the normalization of violence:

Diogo (06:05): "They had the guns. They had... it felt like they saw themselves as equal in terms of violence and firepower."

Normalization of Violence and Its Impact on Youth

A recurring theme is the desensitization to violence among favela residents, including children. The trio recounts alarming scenes where young boys, barely teenagers, are present amidst gunfire without showing signs of fear.

Jake Hanrahan (08:22): "It's sad how, like, normal the violence was."

This normalization fosters a bleak outlook for the youth, where engagement in gang activities appears almost inevitable:

Diogo (09:32): "They were like soldiers patrolling the streets or like, you know, armed police."

The Futility of Change and Entrenched Conflict

As the discussion progresses, both Louis and Diogo express skepticism about the possibility of meaningful change without significant intervention from either the government or the gangs.

Jake Hanrahan (17:27): "This is a war that is going to go on until the end of time."

Diogo (18:31): "It's a mini sort of state within a state... They’re not going anywhere."

Surprising Realities and Misconceptions

Breaking myths, the team shares humorous yet telling moments, such as the misconception about gang affiliations based on sports brands. Their attire inadvertently challenges online stereotypes, demonstrating the disconnect between digital narratives and on-the-ground realities.

Jake Hanrahan (20:48): "It was so funny to see, like, loads of Adidas and... no one gave a shit about anything like that, man."

Recent Developments: Escalating Violence and Government Crackdowns

Louis Hollis provides an update on the volatile situation since their last visit. Recent police raids in the Israel and Mare complexes have intensified the violence, leading to civilian casualties and widespread disruption.

Louis Hollis (21:55): "Over the last three months, crime in Rio's favelas has flared up big time."

He also touches upon the Brazilian Supreme Court's involvement, which aims to restrict police raids but notes that enforcement remains problematic, continuing to leave civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

The Falat Fogotero Massacre: A Case Study in Atrocity

The episode revisits the Falat Fogotero massacre of February 2019, detailing conflicting accounts of the event. Official reports claim 13 fatalities during a police operation, while local eyewitnesses assert that innocent, often unarmed individuals were executed.

Louis Hollis (27:30): "Photos showed blood-soaked mattresses, bullet holes in walls, and signs that crime scenes have been disturbed."

Despite calls for accountability, the case remains unresolved, underscoring the systemic failures in addressing police brutality and protecting favela residents.

Conclusion: A Grim Outlook with Fleeting Moments of Humanity

As the episode wraps up, Jake reflects on the enduring strife within Rio's favelas, recognizing the immense challenges that lie ahead. The narrative is a powerful testament to the resilience of its residents amidst unrelenting adversity, yet it also mourns the loss of hope for a peaceful resolution.

Jake Hanrahan (30:34): "This is an I Heart podcast."

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Key Takeaways:

• Entrenched Violence: The favelas operate under the de facto rule of gangs, leading to a perpetual state of conflict with minimal governmental interference.

• Impact on Civilians: Ordinary residents, including children, live in constant fear and suffer from the collateral damage of gang and police battles.

• Governmental Dysfunction: Corruption and inefficiency within Brazil's political system exacerbate the issues, leaving favelas to fend for themselves.

• Normalization of Conflict: Violence is so ingrained in favela life that it has become a normalized aspect of daily existence, particularly affecting the younger generation.

• Struggles for Change: Attempts to reform or intervene are hindered by deep-seated mistrust and the complex power dynamics between gangs, militias, and authorities.

Notable Quotes:

• Floz (00:06): "This is the other side of the favela. Basically, everything here, even down to the sewage, is all makeshift."

• Jake Hanrahan (01:47): "The favela is truly stuck between a rock and a hard place."

• Diogo (04:49): "It was easy to get in once we had the access and the permission, but without that, you're getting shot."

• Jake Hanrahan (08:22): "It's sad how, like, normal the violence was."

• Jake Hanrahan (17:27): "This is a war that is going to go on until the end of time."

• Louis Hollis (21:55): "Over the last three months, crime in Rio's favelas has flared up big time."

• Louis Hollis (27:30): "Photos showed blood-soaked mattresses, bullet holes in walls, and signs that crime scenes have been disturbed."

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This episode of Away Days Podcast offers an unflinching look into the heart of Rio's favelas, presenting a narrative that is both harrowing and essential for understanding the complexities of urban conflict and survival in one of the world's most vibrant yet troubled cities.

Transcript

[Jake Hanrahan]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Louis Hollis]

Call zone Media. You're listening to the Away Days podcast On the ground outside, reporting from the underbelly with me, Jake Hanrahan. To watch Away Days documentaries, go to YouTube.com/waydaystv. This is part two, Favelo Government episode four. This podcast is a production of H11 Studio and call Zone Media. After speaking with Floz, the aspiring rapper, we go for a walk around his area in the favela. As we do, a small storm breaks out. Rain showers down from the clouds above and drenches everything. The lush jungle and the harsh concrete of the favela turn a darker shade with the rain. We head up to the hills and cross a bridge over what is an open sewer duct. Human waste and filth stream down the open cement, down the hill into God knows where.

[Floz]

So this is the other side of the favela. Basically, everything here, even down to the sewage, is all makeshift. The government doesn't have any presence here, so basic things are just not getting taken care of. Everything that does happen is either down to the gang or down to the community. And I guess the question is, is that because the gangs are here or is it because the government isn't here? Who knows?

[Louis Hollis]

Unlike the state, Seavi does provide for the favelas, but it also rules them through lead and gold, viol and cash. Perhaps then, the favela government is not so different from the actual government. After all, Brazil has one of the most corrupt political systems in the world. Leadership talks up reforms and anti corruption, but it's mostly meaningless. The police, the military, the justice system, even the health sector have all had recent scandals. Trust in Brazil is at an all time low. The number of Brazilians living in the favelas is growing, and the police units the government sent in to pacify them have brought extortion and massacre. The favela is truly stuck between a rock and a hard place. Seavi continues to thrive underground, controlling their turf and expanding their criminal enterprise from the favelas to the world. Since we left the Fava favela a year ago, at least 2 of the people we met there were killed before our documentary was even published. One of the cell leaders we met, you'll remember his name as Fat Sexy, was shot dead by police in a shootout in the favela one morning last summer. Another lad we met, who didn't speak to us on the record but let us take photos, was also killed. Information is sparse on him, but from what I've been told, he was killed by a rival Gang. He was just a teenager and a few months after we left, I spoke with Diogo from the Luta Livre gym. That morning there was a heavy police incursion into Falat Fogartero. I could hear the constant sound of near distant gunfire in the background as he told me about the situation. It's all so bleak. If you want to see the documentary we made whilst reporting this, it's out now. Go to YouTube.com waydaystv the documentary is called Favela Government. Now I've presented this podcast in a straightforward way, documenting my first hand perceptions of the favelas, the gangs, the people. It's much easier for the listener that way when the media is presented in a podcast format. But as I've mentioned, I was there with a small team, my guys that I work with when making independent documentaries either for Popular Front, Away Days or elsewhere. So to end this part of the Away Days podcast, I wanted to speak to Louis Hollis. He's an incredible documentary filmmaker and photographer. He was the lad that was with me every step of the way in the favela and he has some interesting insights. What was your first impression when we.

[Jake Hanrahan]

First went in there?

[Diogo]

Maybe what I wasn't expecting was the almost a sense of separation. And I think it was when we passed that first checkpoint because we'd already been taken on motorbikes from a kind of lower point in the, you know, the kind of entry point to their favela. But it was going past that first checkpoint and realizing that, okay, this is, these aren't like guys that just come out after dark or are sort of hiding. It's kind of very out in the open and you're in, you're in their territory now. It's like literally their territory. I suppose just the kind of maze like quality of the favela and how to an outsider it's, it's, it's kind of impregnable in a way.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah, I, I realize like, like you, like once we're past a certain bit, it's like no one's coming here to get you out. Like, you know what I mean?

[Floz]

It's crazy.

[Louis Hollis]

Like it was easy to get in.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Once we had the access and the permission, but without that you're getting shot. You know what I mean? I could kind of, I don't know about you, but I kind of felt that at one point like, you know, when we're in the alleyway and the lad there is like, oh yeah, they call this alleyway the, the place where bullets fly. I was like, oh shit. Like, you know, it kind of made me realize like this is actually night and day compared to the city.

[Diogo]

Yeah, absolutely. I think moment where I really realized was, I think when we got to the kind of. That little hillside moment of realization of the kind of level of control that these guys have over this area is when we came across their sort of wholesale drug supply area. The sort of. It was like a kind of, you know, disused bus stop where they're all hanging out and they're just openly sorting, you know, drug packages, hanging around with a whole array of weapons and probably be quite easy to surveil that if, if the police really wanted to. The guys making no attempt to hide their activities.

[Louis Hollis]

Yeah, it was almost the opposite. It was like they want you to.

[Jake Hanrahan]

See because I guess for them that's.

[Louis Hollis]

Like letting all the people that need the drugs know that's the sale point.

[Jake Hanrahan]

You know what I mean?

[Diogo]

Yeah, definitely. And it's. But there's no. Also no fear of any kind of, you know, law enforcement or police being anywhere near that are coming in. You know, I think the sense we got is that if the police are coming in here, they're coming and shooting. There's no, there's no squad car that's going to roll around the corner. It's like they. This is CV territory.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah, that's something that I like, I've seen it a few times in my.

[Louis Hollis]

Work over the years, but there I.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Could really feel this like, matter of fact vibe where they saw themselves as like, equal in terms of like violence and firepower. It wasn't like, well, you know, we'll run away and maybe we. It was like, no, no, like if they come up here, we're shooting them, you know what I mean? And they had the guns. They had. Okay, they're not literally equal, but it felt to me as if they felt like, you know, it was one force against the other on equal footing. I don't know about you, but do you get what I mean?

[Diogo]

Definitely. I think it kind of. It felt, you know, they had the sense of like, yeah, opposing armies or something. It did not feel like they was. It did not feel like they were scared at all. And the kind of, I don't know, that moment where the, you know, there's that bit of gunfire that goes off in the distance. It's sort of. It felt so normalized to them. I think hearing that, you know, they, they kind of leapt into action, I think, to go and check it out. But it just felt like a lot of them didn't really bat an eyelid.

[Louis Hollis]

Yeah.

[Jake Hanrahan]

It's sad how, like, normal the violence was. And I think just before the gunfire went off and we had to like, move. I don't know if you remember, but there was like, all the lads were like, showing us their guns, like, yo, I got an Uzi. And like they had like a fucking kilo of drugs literally like wrapped in plastic at our feet. And then if you look over, there's just like two young boys, maybe like eight, nine years old, just watching the whole thing, man. Like, even in their faces, you could tell, like, they weren't. I don't feel like they were scared.

[Louis Hollis]

I feel like they were just curious.

[Diogo]

Yeah. You kind of see the kids because there were kids everywhere. Yeah. You know, there was no sort of, like, you know, shield the kids away from this. It's like they're just like, they're like soldiers patrolling, you know, patrolling the streets or like, you know, armed police. That's in a way. But they're, you know, kids in flip flops with very expensive assault rifles in some cases. You kind of got a sense of the pipeline of kids going into that world as well. It didn't seem like, you know, they're kids necessarily, not trying to be kept separate. It felt like a kind of multi. You could see like almost the different generations in the gang all working together in that drugs era. It felt like, you know, it's like imagine your hometown and you and all your mates are in the gang, but then your dad and all his generation are in the same gang.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah, I do know what, I didn't even think about that. And you're right, because I don't know if you remember, but like, after the gunfire and like, it chilled out, we went back to that, like, kind of dealer's spot. And there was that young lad in the balaclava and he had a hat on and he was wearing all the camo. And like, I think he wanted us to, like, he was like, oh, I want to talk. But then when he realized, like, we're not giving. He wanted money. Do you remember? And then we're like, we don't paying people to speak at that point. He was like, oh, I don't want to talk then. But like, that guy was like, what, like 16, 17 maybe?

[Diogo]

So young. So young. I mean, him. Yeah, he sticks out to me. And also the kid, you know, the one who we passed on the sort of cv.

[Louis Hollis]

Yeah.

[Diogo]

Checkpoint. And that really stuck with me. I think you've got this kid who's kind of, you Know, he's. His day to day job is basically sitting over one of the most idyllic views probably of Rio.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah.

[Diogo]

And, you know, he's got a pistol in his back, you know, in his waistband and a walkie talkie. And he's. He's kind of, I don't know, he's, I guess in his, you know, what, what's going through his head? What's it, what's his sort of. I don't know, how does he see his. What's he thinking about his trajectory?

[Louis Hollis]

The worry is that his future is death.

[Jake Hanrahan]

I mean, if you look at that lad that we were just talking about, the wanted money, he's dead. He's been shot and killed like since like a couple months after we left. Like there was some kind of gang shootout and he got shot by like another gang. The guy calling himself Fat Sexy. He's been shot dead by the cops since. Like, it's fucking crazy.

[Diogo]

Yeah. And I think maybe, you know, the fact that it was quiet while we were there would maybe make you think that it's. Maybe it's kind of once in a while that something happens. But clearly this, you know, these guys are ready to, to fight at a moment's notice.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah. I messaged Diogo, like the guy from the Luta Leverage Gym, and he was like sending me a voice note and there's just like gunfire in the background. And he was like, oh, yeah, there's like the police are launching an operation today. Like, just blase, just like pure gunfire in the background. Like the gang and the, and the fucking police shooting each other. I was like, wow. Like, it's just crazy. What did you make of him, by the way?

[Diogo]

Diogo, he was the most interesting person we met. I mean, he, he kind of represented how complicated this whole story, I think is definitely, you know, he's working this guy who's lost his. His dad was a cop. He's from the favela. His dad was a cop. You know, where does that then place him in the sort of, you know, the kind of hierarchy had his dad not been killed. But he's, you know, experienced losing his dad at a young age and could have gone, his life could have gone in any direction, but he's. He's here working in this gang belt built sports center.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah.

[Diogo]

Trying to give kids a sort of positive outlet.

[Jake Hanrahan]

It's crazy, man.

[Diogo]

And yeah, he just instantly got a sense of like a really good guy and someone who's, you know, been through a lot, but has, you know, he's he knows, he knows what he's trying to do. You know, you could see a guy with a kind of a bit of a mission, definitely.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah, you can see it. Like he, even though he didn't say it, I kind of felt this vibe of like he's defiant against everyone, like he will do what he's got to do, you know. I don't know about you, Lou, but I felt a little bit like when we were interviewing him, he was kind of. Obviously he can't say anything negative about the gang, but I felt he was a little bit uncomfortable maybe. Like, it's like he kind of. Without saying it, I feel like he was almost kind of like, yeah, you know, these people are hard to deal with, but I deal with it. You know what I mean? Like, it didn't seem like he was like, oh no, they're great. I got some kind of vibe. I don't know about you.

[Diogo]

Yeah, exactly. He's, you know, I think they are ultimately the law in this. In this. But, you know, in fallout Fogartero and you don't know what the repercussions are for speaking out against CV publicly. I mean, I can imagine, I can imagine it's probably not good. Yeah, he, he wasn't, he wasn't kind of singing the gang's praises, I think. I think he, he probably perhaps represented the views of a lot of, you know, people who maybe are from the favela but wouldn't mind living somewhere else or, you know, that they can't. That it's. CV is not a way of life for them. Yeah, they live in the favela and that's, you know, that's, that's their reality and they're trying to make the best of it.

[Jake Hanrahan]

The one thing I didn't see though, and maybe it was just that specific favela we're in. I mean, it's a very big favela.

[Louis Hollis]

Is a lot going on.

[Jake Hanrahan]

But I didn't get the sense that people were necessarily like day to day scared. Like, you know, little kids were like looking around, they didn't even flinch. Like nobody even like every civilian was just like. I didn't even feel like they were overcompensating. They were just like, huh, like whatever, you know what I mean? I, I don't know. Did you feel like anyone was actually scared there? I mean, I'm sure they're scared of what could happen to them if they cross the gang. We all know, but I didn't get the feeling that everybody there was on Tenderhawks. I Don't know about you.

[Diogo]

No, I, I, No, I didn't think that either and I didn't, I didn't know. I didn't sense that at all in Diogo, at the gym.

[Jake Hanrahan]

No.

[Diogo]

Yeah, it just, yeah, it's just like a kind of, A kind of resignation. This is life. Yeah, much in any other, you know, if you live in a country with a government or, you know, the law, you don't like, you know, what, what can you do? I think it seemed, yeah, it didn't seem. It didn't seem to be like a tension between CV and the people of the favela. And I think maybe that speaks to how kind of ingrained they are there and how many people are involved in it in one way or another. But it, yeah, it's, It's. They're not going anywhere.

[Jake Hanrahan]

No, no. Was there anything that really surprised you? Maybe you had like a preconception or whatever that surprised you or what?

[Diogo]

You know, it was interesting, actually, was. I remember asking the guy in our film, he's known as Player.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah.

[Diogo]

And no, I wasn't expecting this answer, but I said, you know, do you know people in these rival areas? Because all the time we were there, they would point out, they'd say that CV over there, and that's our rivals, you know, them, basically. But I remember we sat eating some food and said, you know, do you know, actually know anyone from these areas? And he said, yeah, I went to school with quite a few of these guys and we sort of, you know, if I see them in a neutral area, he said, you know, we'll shake hands, but we're still rivals at war. And again, it's so. It's a kind of absurd answer in a way, isn't it?

[Jake Hanrahan]

I totally forgot about that. And that is actually such an interesting point. Yeah, I forgot about that. I remember him saying it. I was thinking, what the fuck? Like, if he see, he's like, yeah, if they're in our part of favela, like, he's gonna shoot them. But if he sees them in a neutral area, they shake hands. Like, that's sad, man.

[Diogo]

Yeah, it's sad. And it's, you know, again, it's almost like it's like they don't know anything else apart from these rivalries and this kind of constant state of war, that it's kind of like it's just a factor of life, that, yeah, we're friends, but he's also my enemy.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah. And he said something really good as well.

[Louis Hollis]

He was like, this is a war.

[Jake Hanrahan]

That is going to go on until the end of time. And like, after being there, I kind of believe that. Like, I don't see how you could possibly end it or solve it. You know, like, I just, I'm sure maybe, maybe I'm just, you know, like being a bit negative, but I'm sure there's like, there's a line where you go past after a certain amount of time and insurgency and violence and government corruption and whatever. I just cannot imagine any way to change what is going on there.

[Diogo]

No, I mean, not, not without either the cooperation of the gang with the government, which would never happen. Yeah, there's just no trust there whatsoever. Or, you know, some kind of enormous operation on the police part to eradicate cv, which, you know, it's just never. It's never going to happen, is it? You know, I think they. It's kind of like the die is cast, almost like they're. They just sort of. Perhaps the government just thinks, well, it's not worth our time to try and change these areas.

[Jake Hanrahan]

I think so. And I think as well the fact that you just don't see any, like, there's no presence of the state there. It would cost the government so much money to then start caring about these areas. It's like another country almost.

[Diogo]

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. That's what it, that's what it felt like. It felt like you got. It's just. It's like a mini sort of state within a state. And yes, they're all Brazilians and they, they go into Rio but it's. They come home and it's like they live in a different country and they sort of have to. They're just left to their own devices. And I guess that's the sort of. The question you're asking in the film is like, is this because of CV or is this because of the absence or CV because the government's not here?

[Jake Hanrahan]

I don't know about that.

[Floz]

Still.

[Louis Hollis]

What do you reckon?

[Diogo]

Oh, it's so. It's. It's hard to say. It's. I mean, you'd have to. You'd have to sort of wind the back, wouldn't you? I think it's clearly they've always been. I don't think it's. These favelas were never sort of affluent areas or. It's not like a once working class area that has since declined like you might see in America or something like that. I think it's. These have always been the sort of poorest sections of society in Brazil and, you know, were they were. They ever really cared about. I don't know. I wouldn't say I'm.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah, no, I think. I think that's a good point. It's not like. It's not like they can go back to a different way. It was always like this, you know, it was just the people were like, right, get out of the way from the government, like, go there. And that's that. It's. It's crazy. One thing that made me laugh, actually, on a brighter note, before we went out there, the kind of online idea is that everybody in CV territory wears Nike and everybody in the other gang wears Adidas, right? And I remember saying to you, like, louis, bring Nikes, don't wear any Adidas. Day when we get there, the main guy is wearing Adidas. And I was like, what the. And at one point, I. I got Thiago to ask one of them, like, about that, and he was like, nah, it's just some fucking myth. I was like, wow. Like, you go online and like everywhere says that that's how it is. And maybe it was like 50 years.

[Louis Hollis]

Ago, I don't know.

[Jake Hanrahan]

But yeah, it was so funny to see, like, loads of Adidas and like, online it's like, yeah, if you wear ad ass in the favela in the wrong gang, you might get killed. And that. No one gave a shit about anything like that, man.

[Louis Hollis]

It was very funny.

[Diogo]

Well, you and me going in there in full, Nike must have looked like a sort of throwback, probably. Yeah.

[Jake Hanrahan]

They must have thought, what are these idiot gringos doing? And in my head, I was like, oh, we'll really fit in. We ain't gonna get shot. And then in reality, they probably just like, what the fuck is wrong with these guys? But, yeah, man, I don't know.

[Diogo]

I think if we've been wearing the wrong football shirts, I get the impression we might have been in trouble.

[Jake Hanrahan]

But yeah, yeah, they love the football there. That was what was there? What was their flamenco.

[Diogo]

Flamenco, yeah.

[Jake Hanrahan]

Yeah, really cool. All right, Louis, thanks so much, man. That's been really great. I really wanted to just get your.

[Louis Hollis]

Kind of perspective on it, man.

[Jake Hanrahan]

I appreciate it.

[Diogo]

My pleasure. It was an incredible experience.

[Louis Hollis]

So, as I said, the last time we were in the favelas was about a year ago. What's been happening recently? Well, over the last three months, crime in Rios favelas has flared up big time. Clashes between drugs, gangs, and the police, as well as increasing pressure from the vigilante militias, are kicking things off in a very violent way. One of the biggest events happened in June when Rio's civil police carried out a massive operation in the so called Israel complex, an area controlled by the Pure Third Command faction. The raid followed a long investigation and led to almost a dozen arrests and the seizure of many rifles. But it didn't come without the usual chaos. Stray bullets hit a bus driver and a passenger in separate incidents downtown amidst a gunfight. Video footage from this event showed average civilians diving for cover along busy roads out in the street in the middle of the day. Just a few weeks earlier in May, another big raid took place in the Mare complex, another hotbed of gang activity. This time the target was Thiago da Silva Foley, the alleged top boss of previously mentioned Pure Third Command. He was killed in a shootout along with two other of his henchmen. Foley had a massive rap sheet, nearly 230 charges and over a dozen active arrest warrants. His death was a major moment in the state's ongoing effort to crack down on armed gangs, with one of the governors insisting that the government won't back down in the face of organized crime, even though many of them are involved with it. Naturally, these raids brought serious disruption. Roads were shut, schools were closed, and people living nearby were once again caught in the middle of the crossfire. Interestingly though, whilst all this was going on, Brazil's Supreme Court has been looking into a case that restricts police from carrying out raids in favelas unless absolutely necessary. It originally came into force during the pandemic, trying to stop the increasingly aggressive policing that often left many civilians dead, and still does. But even with these limits, police raids haven't exactly slowed down. Over 4,600 were carried out between mid-2020 and and early 2025. Even with these proposed restrictions, one recent operation in Villa Kennedy led to school closures and even health services being suspended because of the sheer level of violence in the streets. Again, the civilians pay the price. At the same time, residents are still living under the control of rival criminal groups. One side you've got the major gangs that we've spoken about in this series. They enforce their own rules in many of the favelas. And on the other there are the militias, made up of the ex cops, maybe serving cops, military, even firemen. These are acts like private armies, offering up so called protection while running their own extortion rackets. In many cases it's actually these groups, not the police, the government or the gangs, who are setting curfews and dictate who operates what businesses. They decide who stays, who goes. They're the ones pushing the heavy taxes on a lot of the people there in the favelas, as you can imagine, all of this takes a toll. Schools are constantly shot when the violence breaks out. Residents, especially children, are living with the constant risk of getting caught in the crossfire. And studies show that nearly half of favela residents have heard gunfire recently. Many are suffering mentally because of it, with PTSD and various other undiagnosed issues. Now remember this while you listen to the podcast. For most people living there in the favelas, the fights between the gangs, the militias and the police is not some abstract thing. It's right outside their front door to really drive that home. After listening to this chapter of the Away Days podcast, I want to leave you with a few more details on the Falette Fogotero massacre we touched on in an earlier episode. Quote Back in February 2019, the Falat Fogotero favela in central Rio was the site of one of the deadliest and most controversial police raids in recent memory. Official reports said 13 people were killed, but some local accounts claimed up to 15. The operation was carried out by Rio's elite military police units, BOPE and the Shock Battalion as part of a crackdown on drugs gangs in the area. But what actually happened that day has been heavily disputed ever since. Residents say the police didn't arrive in an active shootout. According to many eyewitnesses, the victims had already surrendered or were unarmed when they were killed. Some were reportedly executed at point blank range inside their houses. Several bodies were shot in the back, suggesting they were fleeing or had already given up. One particularly disturbing claim is that police dragged bodies away and dumped them in nearby hospitals, a tactic that human rights organizations say is sometimes used to tamper with evidence and make it harder to investigate the actual cause of death. Groups like Human Rights Watch and local watchdogs raised serious red flags about how the operation was handled. Photos showed blood soaked mattresses, bullet holes in walls, and signs that crime scenes have been disturbed. There were accusations that the police messed with the locations of the bodies and gave false reports. Families of the victims were left devastated and furious, saying there were poor young men, many of whom had no criminal records and were killed in cold blood. Despite all of this, the investigation moved painfully slowly. For months, nothing really happened. Then, in 2020, Rio's public prosecutors officially recommended closing the case. They argued that the police had acted lawfully and were justified in their use of lethal force. This decision was slammed by human rights groups who called it a whitewash and said it sent the message that police can kill in the favelas with no consequences. To this day, no officers have been charged or held accountable for the Fale Fogartero massacre. The families are still fighting for justice, but the case has pretty much vanished from the news. For many people in Rios favelas, it was just another example of how the system turns a blind eye when poor black favela communities are on the receiving end of police violence. End quote. Next week, it's the third and final chapter of Away Days Podcast. We'll take you on the ground amidst the new generation of Japan's illegal street racers. They like to go very, very fast. You've been listening to the Away Days Podcast to watch independent Away Days documentaries. Subscribe to our [e-mail] waydaystv the Away Days Podcast is a production of H11 Studio for Cool Zone Media Reporting, producing, writing, editing and research by me, Jake Hanrahan, co producing by Sophie Lichterman, music by Sam Black and in this episode, Diamondstein Sound mix by Splicing Block Photography by Johnny Pickup and Louis Hollis Graphic design by Laura Adamson and Casey Highfield.

[Jake Hanrahan]

This is an I Heart podcast.