The sprawling favelas of Rio de Janeiro are home to more than a million of Brazil's poorest citizens.

Many of these shanty towns are controlled by drug gangs, and there are regular and violent confrontations with the police.

But a growing number of these neighbourhoods are being taken over by what are known here as militias, complicating an already difficult security situation.

These are vigilante-style operations run by off-duty or former police officers and firemen, who throw out the drug gangs and claim to offer protection to the community, but at a price.

If you don't follow their way and do what they say, you go straight to the grave

Shanty town resident


"The payments we have discovered they get are very attractive," Rio police investigator Claudio Ferraz told the BBC News website.

"Because literally they occupy an area and charge a fee or a payment, almost like a tax inside that community, like a lord of the manor. They have complete power over some areas."

Militias have been around for some time, but analysts believe the number has been growing in recent years, while the authorities insist they are trying to deal with the threat.

However while there has been some police action against suspected militia groups, questions have also been raised about whether the police in Rio can deal effectively with corruption among their colleagues.

In the favelas, few want to talk openly about militias - and one representative from a local community group would only speak without being identified.

"They control everything, they make demands, they kill. If you don't follow their way and do what they say, you go straight to the grave," the woman said.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7283640.stm


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6cK9CTD ... re=related