Brazil arrests alleged drug kingpin
An anti-narcotic operation at the Jacarezinho favela in Rio de Janeiro, on July 19, 2011.
Brazilian police arrested the alleged drug kingpin of Rio's largest favela as he was trying to flee.
Francisco Antonio Lopes Bomfim, known as "Nem," was considered one of the most wanted criminals in Rio, reported La Nacion. He was found in the trunk of a car while trying to pass through roadblocks around the Rocinha favela.
An officer said that the Nem and his companions tried to bribe the arresting officers with $16,600.
The Brazilian police have been setting up checkpoints at the entrances to the favela and are reportedly preparing to move in to take control back from traffickers.
Since 2008, the police have been occupying slums to make the city safer before the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. To date, they've occupied about 20 slums.
Rocinha is one of the key favelas that the city wants to reclaim before the World Cup and Olympics.
At least 70,000 people live in the shantytown, according to the last census figures, but is widely thought to have considerably more residents, reports the BBC.
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