Helicopter Carrying
Santa Claus Targeted By
Rio's Drug Gangs
RIO DE JANEIRO - A
helicopter transporting
a man wearing a Santa
Claus costume was shot
by drug trafficking
gangs in Rio, the local
press reported on
Monday.
No one was injured in
the attack. However, two
bullets damaged the
aircraft's oil reservoir
and transmission.
The pilot landed safely
in the Complexo da Mare,
a group of favelas in
Rio's north zone, where
a local community center
had prepared a Christmas
party for children.
The helicopter belonged
to a private company,
and had left the Recreio
dos Bandeirantes
district, in the west
zone, especially to take
"Santa Claus" to the
party, where he was
supposed to deliver
presents to the kids.
While it was flying over
the favela Vila do Joao,
it was targeted by
members of the gang that
rules the traffic of
drugs in the community.
According to Rio's State
Police, the drug dealers
are fighting to take
over a neighboring
favela dominated by
another gang, where the
Christmas party was
about to take place.
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