<b>Photos:</b> Police in Brazil crack down on drugs, violence

Smoke rises from a bus set on fire during riots at Rio Comprido shantytown in Rio de Janeiro. Authorities say that gang members, who hide out in numerous shantytowns, have erected roadblocks on major highways to rob motorists en masse, torched more than 40 cars and buses, and shot up police outposts to protest a security program that has been pushing them from slums where they’ve held sway for decades.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

A woman lies on the floor of a doorway as she reacts and takes cover after a shooting during riots by gang members in Rio Comprido shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

A woman runs away as a police officers gather during riots at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro. Police raided gang-ruled shantytowns and said some 10 suspected criminals died in gunbattles on Wednesday as authorities tried to halt a wave of violence that has rattled rich and poor alike in the Brazilian city.  (Felipe Dana/AP)

A police officer guards the area where a bus was burned by alleged drug traffickers at the Santa Cruz slum in Rio de Janeiro. Heavily armed men halted buses and cars, robbed their passengers and set the vehicles ablaze Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, continuing a wave of violence that has rattled rich and poor alike in a city Brazil hopes to make a showplace for the 2016 Olympics.   (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

A man looks at a truck allegedly set on fire by drug traffickers at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Felipe Dana/AP)

Police officers patrol the street during riots at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Felipe Dana/AP)

People run while they protect themselves from bullets during a police operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro,.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Journalists protect themselves behind cars during a shooting between police and alleged drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Police officers aim their weapons during riots at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro. Police raided gang-ruled shantytowns and said some 10 suspected criminals died in gunbattles on Wednesday as authorities tried to halt a wave of violence that has rattled rich and poor alike in the Brazilian city.  (Felipe Dana/AP)

People look at a truck allegedly set on fire by drug traffickers at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Felipe Dana/AP)

Police officers take position during a police operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Police officers ride on a vehicle after a police operation at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Police officers remove a trap from a police armored car, placed by alleged drug traffickers, during an operation at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Riot policemen get ready to enter Vila Cruzeiro shantytown in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian security forces killed seven suspected drug traffickers early Wednesday in a heavily armed operation after a wave of violence overnight in Rio’s squalid slums, police said.  (Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images)

An injured policeman is carried onto an ambulance after he was shot during clashes with drug dealers in Rio de Janeiro.  (Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images)

A man carrying his child walks past policemen during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman takes position during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Policemen run during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman checks suspects during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman patrols the Jacarezinho slum as children look out from their house in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman checks suspects during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

An armored police vehicle patrols the Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman patrols the Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman runs during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman checks students during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

Policemen take position during an operation at Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A woman and children stand next a car burned by alleged treffickers at Cavalcanti neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Rio’s entire military police force was ordered into the streets after gangs burned more cars.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Policemen patrol the Jacarezinho slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A woman reacts during a police operation against organized crime in Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

A police officer stands in front of a bus burned by alleged treffickers at Vicente Carvalho neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro. Rio’s entire military police force was ordered into the streets after gangs burned cars.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Residents look at a burned bus after an attack in the Vicente de Carvalho neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A policeman walks near a burned bus after an attack at Vicente de Carvalho neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Authorities in Rio de Janeiro struggled to control violence believed to be orchestrated by drug gang members who have attacked police stations and burned cars in the Brazilian city. Suspected drug gang members ordered people out of their cars on expressways and then set fire to the vehicles.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

The body of a man lies slumped in a car after being shot in Rio de Janeiro.  (Severino Silva/AP)

People take refuge in a store during a police operation against organized crime in the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Police patrol in the Manguinhos slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

A bullet hole pierces the window of a small police station in the Del Castilho neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Rio’s entire military police force was ordered into the streets after more gang attacks resulted in two motorists shot dead, cars burned and mass robberies on highways.  (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

An armored police vehicle patrols the Mandela 2 slum in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)

A police booth riddled with bullet holes is seen at Del Castilho neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro.  (Sergio Moares/Reuters)

Policemen carry a suspected drug trafficker after a shootout as they conduct a raid on drug gangs at the Mandela 2 slum in Rio de Janeiro. Authorities in Rio de Janeiro struggled to control violence apparently orchestrated by drug gang members who have attacked police stations and burned cars in the Brazilian city.  (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)