ARMED POLICE IN TANKS WITH OVERHEAD HELICOPTER GUARDS STORM NOTORIOUS RIO SLUM IN CONTROVERSIAL 'CLEAN-UP' AHEAD OF WORLD CUP

1,400 armed police and marines have stormed one of Brazil's biggest slums in bulletproof trucks

Helicopters circle as scores of military point guns at residents as they walk through the streets in which they live

Operation to rid Complexo da Mare, home to more than 130,000 residents, of violence and drug gangs started today

Since 2011, government has cracked down on slums within the city ahead of World Cup which begins in June

Brazilian police have attracted widespread criticism following use of violence and 'covered-up' murders

DAYLYMAIL - By EMILY KENT SMITH - The Brazilian government has deployed forces to one of Rio de Janeiro's largest slums - in a clean-up operation which aims to reduce crime in the city ahead of the World Cup. 

Federal forces are here pictured entering the violence-plagued Complexo da Mare - one of Brazil's biggest slums - 'favelas' in Portuguese. 

These pictures show troops storming the favela bearing guns in bullet-proof vehicles while a helicopter circles above.

The faces of the 130,000 residents who live on the Mare complex have also been pictured. Mare is formed of 16 separate communities and has been riddled with drugs and dominated by gangs and militias. 

It is close to Rio's international airport, which means that visitors must drive past it on their way into the city. 

Senior officials have denied that the Mare clean-up is related to the World Cup - claiming that they aim to improve the lives of Rio favela residents.

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