Friends of a Diferent Type, the traficantes of ADA

Anybody who lives here in a favela long enough will tell you that they know somebody connected with the drug trade. Here in Rocinha with the population being about 250,000 people there about 800 are in the "Movimento". Yes, I do know some who are in the movimento. Yes, I have talk with them, yes we are friends, but I am not IN the Movimento. 

There is a mutual respect among the residents and traficantes. Most are "Cria", born and raise here in the favela so there is not much open judgement of them. I have mix feelings about them but I do understand why they are here and the things they do, both evil and good. How can I judge them when I am not perfect and never lived their life. Unless all the drug users stop using drugs, traficantes will always exist. 

Tuesday 17 dez,... Meeting Nem This is a guy who I met three days ago close to one of my favorite places “Bob’s Burgers”. Nem is about 6’2 and thin. His face looks like many who you see in the favela, nothing special. Nem is the Dono do Morro or the owner of the hill, in otherwords, the head of the drug gang here. He is very diferent from Bem Te Vi who was a show off with his gold jewlery and gold guns. Nem looks very normal with no gold or flashy clothes. He is very composed for somebody who has defied the rules (usually drug dealers die before their 20 birthday). He is 28. I met him through a friend who I will not name to protect their safety. Anyhow, Nem wants one of my T-shirts that I have made. Nem has a reputation as being a cool guy who helps the favela. But, I need to make clear that I am not into drugs or the negative stuff. But when you live in the favela, it is best to make these guys your friends, but at a distance. They are trusted more than the police who mess with the residents every time they enter or leave the favela.. 

So back to the invasion, the police killed two traficantes, bust a few for drugs and confiscated some pirated stuff, but what now???? So, it was later related that there was an informant (X-9) on the inside and the police usually say they are coming..Its is like a big game, they play with each other. But its not a game when innocents die. 

Wednesday 17 dez, .. Traficantes So, yesterday, I was waiting for a friend of mine and near the entry to the area called Cachopa. Before he arrived I noticed about 5 traficantes descend the area with their machne guns out in the open. By the way, you can see this everyday if you are out walking in the favela. Well, one guy stepped into the middle of the street with his gun across his chest and stopped traffic both ways so this small black car could exit the area. It is amazing how much control the trafickers have in the comunity, not directly in your life but just in overall prescence here.