Militias - Paramilitary Groups in Rio
Read More1 / 23
Claudio Ferraz, Chief of Rio Police's Organized Crime Unit (DRACO) in his office in Rio de Janeiro, June 6, 2008. Ferraz is investigating the torture of undercover journalists by a paramilitary group, known as "militias," in a Rio slum in May. Militias have taken over some slums from drug traffickers, rule with an iron hand, and charge a "toll" for many basic services from cooking gas, cable TV and transport. Ferraz compared the situation to the film "Gangs of New York." (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)