Witness S01E04 - Rio

Episode Overview

As Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the Summer Olympics in 2016, the city is engulfed in a fierce conflict between law enforcement and formidable drug cartels. In a significant military initiative, over 2,000 Brazilian troops flood the streets to confront the notorious Red Command and Amigos de Amigos gangs, aiming to reclaim the hilltop favelas before the world turns its gaze to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup and the upcoming Olympics. In response, the gangs unleash a wave of urban violence targeting vehicles, public transport, and police facilities, leading to the deaths of several journalists. Among the few brave enough to navigate the perilous favelas, including Mangueira, is photographer Eros Hoagland. As he documents the chaos, unsettling truths come to light: in some areas deemed “pacified,” the Red Command had been tipped off and retreated to safer locations.