Rio's drug war

A small war took place last week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between Brazilian forces and hundreds of drug traffickers holed up in the shantytown complex dubbed Complexo do Alemão. After recent efforts by officials to pacify Rio's drug and gang-related violence ahead of the upcoming the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics Games, drug gangs struck out last week - attacking police stations and staging mass robberies. After days of preparation, Brazilian security forces launched a raid in the Complexo do Alemão, where between 500 and 600 drug traffickers were holed up. At least 42 people were killed in the violence last week, with security forces taking control of many neighborhoods. A relatively low number of arrests were made, and authorities warn of further conflict as continue to flush out more suspects in Rio's maze of favelas

Alleged drug traffickers who did not want to identify themselves, pose for a photo as they stand on a street at a slum in western Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Policemen search a cocaine refining laboratory during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images)

Military policemen take places during a raid in Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

A policeman is seen during a shootout with traffickers during an operation at Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro November 25, 2010. (REUTERS/Bruno Domingos)

A military policeman looks over the rooftops during a raid in Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)

A boy stands outside his house as motorcycles burn at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Police arrest a suspect in the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday Nov. 29, 2010. Authorities seized control of what was long the most dangerous slum in the city as operations continued Monday to locate drug gang members. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

A police officer aims his weapon during an operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/ Silvia Izquierdo)

A policeman looks through his binoculars during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A photographer takes a position behind an empty water tank during an operation at Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on November 27, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes MEDIA)

A photojournalist takes photos of drugs, weapons and bullets seized during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Army soldiers, police and journalists take positions during an operation by the authorities at Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro November 27, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes)

Alleged drug dealers, one holding a weapon, ride a motorcycle through an intersection in the Morro de Alemão shantytown, on November 27, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)

Drug dealers point guns at the police at Grato shantytown in Alemão slum on November 26, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (THIAGO CARDOSO/AFP/Getty Images)

A military helicopter overflies the Morro do Alemão shantytown during a raid on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)

A policemen walks past a wall with a painting of the Brazilian flag marked with bullet holes during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Residents flee the conflict area during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images)

Children play in a pool at the house of an absent alleged drug trafficker at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Policemen carry an injured suspected drug trafficker after a shootout on November 23, 2010, as they conducted a raid on drug gangs at the Mandela 2 slum in Rio de Janeiro. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes) TEMPLATE OUT

Coordination of Special Resources (CORE) policemen escort arrested alleged drug dealers and carry a marijuana plant seized during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images

A police officer hands packages of marijuana seized during an operation against drug traffickers to a fellow officer at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A handcuffed suspect waits inside a police bus during an operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A boy with the word "Peace" written in his forehead looks on during a protest at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)