RIO DE JANEIRO Police killed at least 18 suspected drug traffickers yesterday in an intensive operation in a sprawling slum.

More than 1,300 officers, aided by helicopters and armoured cars, were deployed in Alemão shantytown in Rio, where a war between rival drug gangs has killed 31 people and wounded about 80 since last month.

“There were no innocent people killed,” José Mariano Beltrame, the state security chief, said. Fighting was intense because police had not entered the dangerous parts of the slum in years. Officers fought house to house through narrow alleys for about five hours before they managed to reach the traffickers’ main stronghold, Mr Beltrame added.

At least ten people were wounded in the operation and the officer said that the final death toll may be higher.

Drugs and weapons were also seized in the raid, which came after an eight-week fight between gangs and police that began when two police officers were killed on May 2. (AFP)

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