Elite police units backed by armoured military vehicles and helicopters descended upon Rio de Janeiro's largest slum, the Rocinha favela this weekend. <br /><br />In the most ambitious operation yet that sought to bring security to the seaside city long known for violence, Brazilian police were ready to do battle. <br /><br />But the favela, which has been controlled by drug gangs for 30 years, fell without a shot being fired.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo reports from Rio de Janeiro.
