Antonio Scorza / AFP - Getty Images

Brazilian police detonate explosives in a drug lord's bunker at the Vila Cruzeiro shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The response is following last week's operation by the military and police to sweep away the gangs that had turned the area into the most feared and lawless part of Rio. The operation, unprecedented in scale, was seen as a key step in securing Rio ahead of its hosting duties for World Cup football events in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.

Combating Brazilian drug lords in Rio de Janeiro

You can see more photos from the raids in Rio de Janeiro here.

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