The brazen drug scene of Cracolândia is unlike nearly anything in any city in the world – hundreds and sometimes thousands of addicts, congregating openly in the city’s bustling downtown core. Every mayor thinks they have a solution. After taking office in January, the current mayor, business mogul João Doria, declared war on Crackland. A veritable battalion of 900 armed police and security agents descended on the addicts. Local government officials heralded the operation a success. Doria, triumphant, declared: “Crackland is over and won’t come back.” Six months later, Crackland continues, just metres away from where it was cleared.