ONE of the world’s deadliest cities plagued with murder and gang violence has opened its gates again to tourists after eight years.
Tucked away in a remote corner of Brazil, Manaus is a city known for high murder rates, drug trafficking and organised crime.
Even the locals are terrified to step out of their houses because of the level of violence by drug lords.
But tourists including Brits can go and visit Manaus after a leading European airliner resumed flights to the Brazilian city after eight years.
Portuguese airlines TAP Air will now take you to the dangerous city thrice a week with flights from Lisbon.
It is the only direct flight connecting Europe and Manaus’ Eduardo Gomes International Airport.
The airlines last served the route between 2014 and 2016.
With a population of two million, Manaus is surrounded by jungle, carved out of the Amazon rainforest.
The location combined with drug trafficking, gang violence, and other factors, contribute to the dangers of the city.
Residents have reported feeling like hostages in their homes, afraid to go out.
Schools and transportation have been shut down due to violence.
Shopkeepers have closed their stores due to fear of attacks.
Shocking pictures show rebellious local gangs taking over the city.
Charred vehicles lying on the road can be seen from time to time after attacks by drug dealers.
A local in the city said: “Forty years ago, it was a peaceful place.
“But then due to broader shifts in drug trafficking and related activities in Colombia and Mexico, it grew significantly in significance as a point for narcotics transit.”
Gang violence and murder rates have skyrocketed in Manaus over the years, especially during the nineties and noughties.
It has become a major transportation hub for drug traffickers from Peru and Colombia.
Today, Manaus is listed among the most violent cities in the world, with a homicide rate of 50.66 per 100,000 people, The Telegraph reports.
Simultaneously, disturbing visuals uncover the reality of Cracolândia – a zone comparable in size to London’s Soho where numerous individuals congregate to consume crack cocaine in public spaces.
By day, the streets are lined with zombie-like figures wrapped in blankets.
Their faces bear the marks of years of addiction.
One hit can cost as little as a few cents in Cracolândia, which makes it dangerously accessible to people from all walks of life.
Ranging from criminals to former lawyers or physicians, they become ensnared by addiction in the drug-infested abyss – transforming into “living dead,” as described by the law enforcement authorities.
