Investigation

Río de Janeiro: Police patrol in the slums

From the sprawling favelas of Rio de Janeiro to the vast townships of Cape Town, this gripping documentary follows the frontline officers battling drug trafficking and organized crime in some of the world's most challenging urban environments. Embedded with specialized police units, the film offers rare access to high-risk patrols, targeted raids, criminal investigations, and community policing efforts aimed at restoring order in neighborhoods long affected by poverty and criminal networks. Through exclusive footage and firsthand testimonies, discover how law enforcement in Brazil and South Africa confronts the complex realities of crime, social inequality, and public safety in two of the Global South's largest cities. 00:00 Rio vs Cap: 2 police officers face the slums 01:39 Rio: 20% of the city lives in favelas 02:28 The BOPE: a real war operation 03:21 Tatyana Lima, female UPP commander at 32 06:22 The traffic jam attack: 2 miraculously surviving victims 08:02 Cap: 80% in slums, 200 rival gangs 11:06 The stash: 1 kg of cannabis under the wardrobe 21:10 Dealer from gang 27: tattooed, targeted, survivor 24:00 The dog detects the hidden weapon in 30 seconds 28:03 Captain Oricco: bullet to the skull, titanium plate 35:53 The dealing spot: a police officer killed 4 days later 41:43 The dealer swallows his doses to avoid getting caught 47:23 Delft: 10 dead in one week, night raid 50:32 Night chase: the fugitive throws away his drugs 52:39 Rio, Cap: the police regain ground, the fight continues