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Woodman: THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES
ATTRACT VISITORS BY THE MILLIONS --
SOFT TARGETS FOR THE WAITING SCAMMERS.
I'M CONOR WOODMAN.
I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE WRITING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF TRADE,
AND NOW I'M INVESTIGATING THE TOURIST TRAIL.
THE GUIDEBOOKS WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO SEE.
BUT THERE'S ONE THING THEY DON'T TELL YOU
IS A CHAPTER THE THIEVES DON'T WANT WRITTEN.
USING HIDDEN CAMERAS,
I'LL UNCOVER THE SCAMS THAT ARE EVERY TOURIST'S NIGHTMARE.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES, AND I WANT TO SEE HOW SHE DOES IT.
SORRY.
THE GUY'S BLOCKING THE DOOR.
I'LL MEET THE SCAMMERS, BEFRIEND THEM,
AND LEARN THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING.
SIX TIMES WHAT YOU CHARGED ME TO GET OUT THERE?
I GET SCAMMED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
RIO IS THE MOST VISITED CITY IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
FOR FOUR DAYS EVERY FEBRUARY OR MARCH,
5 MILLION PEOPLE DESCEND ON THE CITY
FOR WHAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTIES
IN THE WORLD -- CARNIVAL.
[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYING ]
DESPITE THE AUTHORITIES' EFFORTS TO POLICE THE FESTIVITIES,
IT REMAINS A REAL MAGNET FOR STREET CRIMINALS.
I MAY LOOK LIKE I'M HERE TO PARTY,
BUT, IN FACT, I'M HERE TO GET BEHIND-THE-SCENES
AND REVEAL JUST HOW RIO'S STREET-HUSTLING ECONOMY
REALLY OPERATES.
FIRST UP IS COPACABANA, ONE OF RIO'S MOST VISITED BEACHES
AND A REAL HOTBED FOR PETTY THIEVES.
THE CREW HAVE BEEN STAKING OUT COPACABANA BEACH,
AND WE FOUND A COUPLE OF GUYS OPERATING AS PICKPOCKETS.
SO, I'M GOING TO POSE AS A TOURIST
AND SET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR PATCH.
I'M GOING TO BE USING THIS BAG AS BAIT.
IT CONTAINS A SECRET CAMERA.
I'M ALSO GOING TO BE FILMING THEM FROM A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES
THAT CONTAINS ANOTHER SECRET CAMERA.
LET'S GO AND CATCH A THIEF.
AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
SORRY.
HELLO.
SORRY?
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. OKAY?
OH, YOU WANT ME TO LOOK AFTER YOUR STUFF?
YEAH, OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
NO PROBLEM.
HOW LONG WILL YOU BE?
TWO MINUTES?
VERY HOT. VERY HOT.
TWO MINUTES, OKAY?
OKAY, TWO MINUTES. OKAY, FINE, NO PROBLEM.
YEAH, MY BAG'S GONE.
AND IT'S CONVENIENT.
I WAS CAUGHT COMPLETELY UNAWARE,
BUT LUCKILY, THE FIVE CAMERAS MISSED NOTHING.
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.
PICKPOCKET NUMBER ONE COMES UP AND GAINS MY TRUST.
WHILST HE DISTRACTS ME,
PICKPOCKET NUMBER TWO APPROACHES FROM BEHIND
AND IS CAUGHT RED-HANDED ON HIDDEN CAMERAS STEALING MY BAG.
LETICIA, ARE YOU STANDING BY
IN CASE I NEED SOME TRANSLATION HERE?
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, JUST A SECOND.
JUST A SECOND. ONE MOMENT, ONE MOMENT.
BEFORE YOU TAKE THESE, WHERE'S MY -- MY BAG?
MY BAG IS GONE.
MY BAG.
MY BAG, UNDER THE CHAIR.
BAG?
GONE.
SAME TIME -- SAME TIME AS YOU'RE TALKING TO ME.
SAME TIME YOU'RE TALKING TO ME.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
LETICIA, COME IN.
SHE'S WITH ME, TOO.
IT'S OKAY, IT'S NO PROBLEM. THERE'S NO PROBLEM.
I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
COME ON, COME ON, COME ON. THERE'S NO PROBLEM.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY TROUBLE,
NO PROBLEM WITH THE POLICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JUNIO, CONOR.
CONOR?
YEAH, PLEASED TO MEET YOU, JUNIO.
OKAY.
JUNIO REALIZES THAT HONESTY IS HIS BEST POLICY,
AND HE CALLS HIS SIDEKICK BACK TO RETURN MY BAG.
AHH.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
IT WAS REALLY GOOD.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD, EVEN THOUGH I WAS --
HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN THE FILM.
Woodman: LUCKILY, JUNIO DOES AGREE TO SPEAK ON CAMERA.
THAT'S QUITE A NEAT TRICK THAT YOU JUST PLAYED.
YOU KNOW, JUST DISTRACT ME BY TALKING TO ME.
I COMPLETELY WAS FOCUSED ON YOU AND DIDN'T REALIZE
THAT YOUR FRIEND WAS STEALING MY BAG THERE.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
YOU'RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OPPORTUNITIES?
AND IS NOW DURING THE CARNIVAL, IS IT A PARTICULARLY GOOD TIME
FOR DOING THIS KIND OF THING?
SO, HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU MAKE DURING CARNIVAL?
HOW MUCH?
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
THAT'S LIKE -- NEARLY A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY.
AS A SKILLED OPERATOR,
JUNIO HAS VARIOUS TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE.
USING ME AS AN ACCOMPLICE,
HE AGREES TO SHOW ME ANOTHER OF HIS WELL-HONED TECHNIQUES.
YEAH, SWATTING A BAG?
OKAY.
TO DEMO THE SCAM, WE'RE USING TWO CREW MEMBERS
TO SIT IN AS UNSUSPECTING TOURISTS.
YOU'VE SEEN A -- YOU'VE SEEN A BAG BEHIND YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
ONCE THE BAG HAS BEEN SPOTTED, THE OPERATION BEGINS.
FINE.
LOOK FOR ME.
I'M LOOKING. I'M LOOKING. I'M LOOKING.
AS THE LOOKOUT, MY RESPONSIBILITY
IS TO PICK THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT TO TAKE THE BAG.
YEAH, GO.
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO MOVE FAST.
WITHIN SECONDS, WE HAVE THE LOOT
AND ARE AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
HOW MANY BAGS, DO YOU THINK, ARE BURIED UNDER COPACABANA BEACH?
I'VE BARELY HAD TIME TO PUT ON MY SUNSCREEN,
AND ALREADY,
I'M ON FIRST-NAME TERMS WITH ONE OF RIO'S HUSTLERS.
Laro: TAXI.
TAXI. TAXI.
IT CAN'T ALWAYS BE THIS EASY, CAN IT?
HOLA.
HOLA.
FIRST TIME?
FIRST TIME CARNIVAL. YEAH.
YEAH.
MOST CITIES I'VE BEEN TO HAVE SOME FORM OF TAXI TRICK.
MY GUESS IS RIO WILL BE NO EXCEPTION.
AHH, THE SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN?
YEAH.
YEAH. VERY BEAUTIFUL.
VERY BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT ELSE IN RIO? WOMEN.
YOU THINK SO?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
I'M TAKING A SHORT RIDE ALONG THE BEACH,
AND IT SHOULDN'T COST MORE THAN 20 REALS, OR $10.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
6 REALS.
OKAY.
BUT AS SOON AS I HAND THE MONEY OVER,
IT'S CLEAR THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.
SIR? SIR?
YEAH. NO, I GAVE YOU 50. I GAVE YOU 50.
5, 5, 5.
SIR, I'M SORRY.
NO, NO, NO, I GAVE YOU --
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
I GAVE YOU 50.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
AHH, AHH, I GAVE YOU 50.
5 REAL, 5 REAL.
MY FRIEND, MY FRIEND, I GAVE YOU 50.
I GAVE YOU 50, NO 5.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
OKAY, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
THE DRIVER REFUSES TO BACK DOWN, AND I'M GETTING NOWHERE.
IT'S TIME TO REVEAL MY STING.
SEE THE CAMERA? SEE THE CAMERA?
WE'RE FILMING.
WE'RE FILMING.
WAIT ONE MOMENT. ONE MOMENT, ONE MOMENT.
OLD TAXI TRICK, IT'S FINE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE CAN KEEP THE MONEY IF HE COMES TO TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SOME OF THAT TRICK AND SOME OF HIS OTHER TRICKS.
SO, THE OLD SWITCH THE NOTE TRICK?
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
AND DO YOU EVER GET CAUGHT DOING IT?
[ LAUGHS ]
MY DRIVER, LARO, IS CLEARLY PROUD OF HIS SKILLS.
HE TELLS ME HE IS WHAT BRAZILIANS CALL A "MALANDRO,"
A LOVABLE ROGUE
WHO USES DEXTERITY AND CHARISMA TO GET HIS WAY.
SO, A GOOD MALANDRO CAN CONVINCE A TOURIST OF ANYTHING?
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE RIO.
EVEN THEIR SCAMMERS OPERATE WITH THIS KIND OF CHARM AND A SMILE.
THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN WORD FOR IT, MALANDRAGEM, YOU KNOW,
IT'S SCAMMING, BUT IT'S SCAMMING-PLUS.
THEY TAKE IT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
Woodman: RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF RIO,
LAPA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS NIGHTLIFE --
A HEADY MIX OF PARTYGOERS, PROSTITUTES, TRANSVESTITES,
AND DRUG USERS.
IT'S THE OLD BOHEMIAN HEART OF RIO
AND A REAL PLAYGROUND FOR SINNERS,
WHERE IT'S SAID ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
Woodman: YOU DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH?
Woman: NO, NO.
NO, YOU JUST WANT ME TO BUY YOU A DRINK.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, I'LL BUY YOU A DRINK. WHAT DO YOU WANT?
YOU GET ONE FOR ME, TOO.
AND ONE FOR ME. TWO.
NOT TWO?
WHY NOT?
TWO.
IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE I MAKE A NEW FRIEND.
THIS GIRL SEEMS PRETTY INSISTENT,
BUT I'M NOT KEEN TO SHARE A DRINK WITH A TOTAL STRANGER.
WHAT ARE YOU HAVING?
YEAH.
OKAY, A BEER.
DO, DO, DO, DO, DO, DO, DO.
YEAH?
[ LAUGHS ]
NO, IT'S GOOD.
GOOD, GOOD.
YEAH, IT'S GOOD.
NO, NO, NO, IT'S FINE.
I'M NOT TELLING YOU.
[ LAUGHS ]
IS IT ONLY FOR TOURISTS?
SHE'S CERTAINLY FORTHCOMING.
JUNIO, THE BEACH HUSTLER, TOLD ME ABOUT PROSTITUTES
SPIKING DRINKS WITH A DRUG THEY CALL "GOOD NIGHT, CINDERELLA."
I WONDER IF THAT'S WHY SHE WANTS TO SHARE A DRINK WITH ME.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RIGHT.
IF YOU PUT IT IN MY DRINK NOW,
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BEFORE I START TO FEEL,
YOU KNOW, WHOA, WOOZY AND FALL ASLEEP?
OKAY, SO YOU HAVE TO ROB ME HERE IN THE STREET?
I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M HEARING.
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION.
DO YOU HAVE SOME ON YOU NOW?
NO, NO, NO.
THANKS, THANKS. I'M KEEPING.
I'M KEEPING THIS ONE VERY CLOSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL, IT WAS REALLY NICE MEETING YOU,
AND I'M GLAD I BOUGHT YOU A DRINK
AND YOU DIDN'T BUY ME A DRINK.
BYE, BYE.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
[ LAUGHS ]
24 HOURS IN RIO...
A BAG STOLEN, SCAMMED IN A CAB,
ALMOST DRUGGED AND ROBBED OF EVERYTHING I OWN.
I THINK I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
MOST PEOPLE COME TO CARNIVAL TO WATCH THE BIG SAMBA PARADE,
WHICH TAKES PLACE OVER CARNIVAL WEEKEND,
BUT THE PARTIES START DAYS BEFORE.
JUNIO HAS INVITED ME TO A STREET PARTY IN SANTA TERESA,
ONE OF RIO'S OLDEST NEIGHBORS, ON A HILL ABOVE LAPA.
SO, TELL ME A BIT ABOUT THIS PARTY THAT WE'RE GOING TO.
DURING CARNIVAL,
THE STREET PARTIES, LIKE THE BEACHES,
ATTRACT HORDES OF TOURISTS
AND OFFER GREAT WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR PICKPOCKETS.
I'M GONNA PUT A SECRET CAMERA ON YOU HERE, OKAY?
PUT THIS AROUND HERE.
TO CATCH A THIEF, WE'RE GOING TO USE A THIEF.
YOU NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON MY WALLET.
I'M GONNA PUT MY SECRET CAMERA HERE AROUND THE BACK, AS WELL.
SO, IF SOMEONE COMES IN FROM BEHIND,
WE CAN SEE IT GETTING STOLEN, OKAY?
YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA BE COVERED. WE'RE GONNA BE COVERED.
IF THERE'S ANYONE OUT THERE, WE'LL SEE THEM.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.
FOR SURE.
OKAY? ALL RIGHT.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
YEAH, LET'S DO IT. LET'S DO IT. LET'S DO IT.
OKAY.
AS WELL AS JUNIO'S AND MY HIDDEN CAMERAS,
WE'RE ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY MY TRANSLATOR, LETICIA,
WHO'S CARRYING A CAMERA DISGUISED IN HER BAG.
BUT TURNING SNITCH IN BRAZIL ISN'T A LAUGHING MATTER,
AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
HOW DO WE SPOT THIEVES IN THE CROWD?
WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE WE LOOKING OUT FOR?
IF YOU WERE PICKPOCKETING HERE,
WHAT KIND OF THINGS WOULD YOU BE LOOKING OUT FOR?
WALLETS IN BACK POCKETS.
[ POP, CHEERING ]
WITH THE PARTY IN FULL SWING, WE GET FURTHER INTO THE CROWDS.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
THERE'S A SURGE,
AND WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOB OF PEOPLE.
SOME OF MY FELLOW PARTYGOERS ARE MAKING ME FEEL ON EDGE.
[ CHEERING ]
CALL ME PARANOID, BUT EVERYONE LOOKS SUSPICIOUS.
IT'S A REALLY HORRIBLE FEELING.
BUT THERE ISN'T A WAY OUT.
I'M TRAPPED.
SOMEBODY TOOK IT. I GOT IT.
YOU SAW IT?
WHO WAS IT?
TOOK ALL THE MONEY OUT OF IT.
THEY TOOK IT, TOOK ALL THE MONEY OUT, AND THREW IT ON THE FLOOR.
AND PUT IT ON THE FLOOR.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GONE.
IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED
WHEN THAT WHOLE SURGE OF PEOPLE CAME THROUGH.
I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE.
I WAS WARNED, AND I WAS EXPECTING IT,
BUT THE THIEF WAS SO SKILLED,
I DIDN'T FEEL MY WALLET BEING STOLEN.
I CAN'T BE SURE WHO TOOK IT,
BUT LOOKING BACK AT THE HIDDEN FOOTAGE,
THE MAN IN THE BLUE AND WHITE SHIRT
DISGUISED WITH BIG SUNGLASSES AND AN AFRO WIG
IS HANGING SUSPICIOUSLY BEHIND US.
MY BAG CAM CAPTURES HIM GETTING CLOSER TO ME
AND SEES HIM RAISING HIS HAND
IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MOVE TO GET INTO MY BACK POCKET.
BUT WHAT'S INCREDIBLE IS, DESPITE MULTIPLE CAMERAS
AND JUNIO WATCHING MY BACK,
I STILL CAN'T BE 100% SURE OF THE CULPRIT'S IDENTITY.
EVEN IF IT WAS THE MAN IN BLUE AND WHITE,
HE WAS, WITHOUT DOUBT, A SLICK OPERATOR.
SO, WHAT IS IT THAT MOTIVATES GUYS LIKE JUNIO
TO BECOME PICKPOCKETS?
HE LIVES IN ONE OF RIO'S MANY NOTORIOUS SLUMS,
FAVELA TAVARES BASTOS.
WHAT'S IT LIKE GROWING UP IN A FAVELA?
[ BOTH SPEAK SPANISH ]
SURE, BEING A PICKPOCKET HAS MUCH TO DO WITH POVERTY,
BUT NOT EVERYONE IN THE SHANTYTOWN IS A THIEF.
FOR JUNIO, IT'S AS MUCH ABOUT THE THRILL.
Woodman: ALL OF RIO IS GETTING READY FOR CARNIVAL'S MAIN ATTRACTION,
THE SAMBA PARADE,
A FIERCE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE CITY'S TOP SAMBA SCHOOLS,
WHO PARADE THEIR SKILLS IN A HIGHLY ORCHESTRATED SHOW.
THE SCHOOLS REPRESENT DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS IN RIO.
LIKE FOOTBALL CLUBS,
THEY'RE EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITIES
AND ATTRACT FANATICAL SUPPORTERS.
IT'S A HUGE INDUSTRY.
VICTORY IN THE PARADE IS WORTH OVER $2.5 MILLION.
FANS WILL GO TO ANY LENGTH TO HELP THEIR SCHOOL WIN.
JUNIO HAS ASKED ME TO SUPPORT HIS TEAM, PORTELA,
IN TRADITIONAL STYLE
WITH SOME GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED MAGIC.
THIS OFFERS ME THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY
TO INVESTIGATE WHAT I SUSPECT TO BE ANOTHER CON.
MACUMBA IS AN AFRO-BRAZILIAN RELIGION,
AND CEREMONIES ARE ADVERTISED ALL OVER TOWN.
I'M PUTTING MY MONEY BEHIND MY TEAM,
BUT TOURISTS LOOKING FOR A SUPPOSEDLY AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE
SIGN UP FOR ALL SORTS OF RITUALS FOR HEALTH, LOVE, AND GOOD LUCK.
I'VE SET MY MEETING UP WITH A MACUMBA,
BUT FIRST, I HAVE TO FILL OUT A SHOPPING LIST.
STRANGE SHOPPING LIST THAT INCLUDES A MIRROR, A DOLL,
SOME WHITE CLOTHES, A HEADDRESS, SOME CLOTHS, EVEN SOME ANIMALS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO SHOPPING.
APPARENTLY, THESE ITEMS ARE ALL NECESSARY TO PERFORM MY RITUAL.
[ LAUGHS ]
I BELIEVE YOU.
I TRUST YOU.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT ALL THESE THINGS ARE FOR,
BUT I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE ADDRESS OF A MACUMBA MARKET
WHICH, CONVENIENTLY, SELLS ALL THE ITEMS ON MY LIST.
HOW MANY STORES DO YOU KNOW
THAT SELL POPCORN, COFFINS, SWORDS, HEADDRESS -- WHITE?
KIND OF SPOOKY, THAT.
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENT
WITH THE MACUMBAS THAT SEND CUSTOMERS HERE?
OH, WOW. YOU'VE GOT FREE WISHES FOR LIFE?
[ LAUGHS ]
WHO ARE YOU HOPING IS GONNA WIN THE SAMBADROME COMPETITION?
WE'RE ON DIFFERENT SIDES, THEN,
'CAUSE I'M TAKING ALL THIS TO GO AND DO MY RITUAL FOR PORTELA.
IT'S NOT CHEAP, IS IT?
IT'S ALL QUITE CONVENIENT.
YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A MACUMBA,
AND A MACUMBA GIVES YOU A SHOPPING LIST,
AND YOU COME TO ONE SHOP
AND PRETTY MUCH KNOCK EVERYTHING OFF THE SHOPPING LIST,
AND THE ONLY THING THAT THE SHOP STOCKS
IS THE STUFF ON THE SHOPPING LIST.
IT'S A NICE LITTLE ARRANGEMENT, ISN'T IT?
[ BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH ]
BUT I'M STILL NOT DONE.
ALL RIGHT. CHAO.
CHAO.
$70 LATER, I'M KITTED OUT FOR MY RITUAL.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'M OFF TO MEET THE PRIEST TO DO MY MACUMBA.
FEELS A LITTLE BIT ODD.
I'VE GOT A BAG FULL OF BRIC-A-BRAC,
AN OUTFIT THAT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE ONE OF THE VILLAGE PEOPLE,
AND TWO BIRDS IN A BOX.
BUT I DON'T WANT ANYONE ACCUSING ME
OF DOING ANYTHING LESS THAN EVERYTHING IN MY POWER --
OR, INDEED, ANYONE ELSE'S POWER --
TO MAKE SURE THAT PORTELA WIN THE COMPETITION.
AS WELL AS THE $70 I'VE SPENT ON MY MACUMBA KIT,
AN UP-FRONT PAYMENT OF $300
HAS SECURED ME AN APPOINTMENT WITH A MACUMBA PRIEST.
A WATERFALL IN ONE OF RIO'S NATIONAL PARKS
IS OUR RENDEZVOUS.
THIS IS STARTING TO FEEL LESS FUNNY
AND JUST A BIT CREEPY.
I COME BEARING GIFTS.
MY PRIEST IS A MAN OF FEW WORDS,
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.
OW, OW, OW!
OW!
OKAY, NOT THE FACE, NOT THE FACE. OW!
AHH. AHH. WHEW!
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
IS THIS THE BIT WHERE WE SING "YMCA"?
[ BELL CLANGING ]
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON,
BUT I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO GO WITH THE FLOW.
[ CLAPPING ]
I'VE BEEN BEATEN WITH A BUNCH OF LEAVES,
DUNKED IN FREEZING WATER,
AND NOW I'M HAVING A PIGEON RUBBED IN MY FACE.
AND ALL FOR JUST SHORT OF $400.
I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL I'VE BEEN TAKEN FOR A BIT OF A RIDE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE,
SO I'M A LITTLE BIT SUSPICIOUS.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND DO YOU GET MANY TOURISTS COME AND DO THIS?
REALLY?
AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO THEY ASK FOR?
ARE THERE SORT OF TWO SIDES TO THIS?
IS THERE KIND OF A MORE SERIOUS SIDE
THAT YOU BELIEVE IN?
YOU DON'T LOOK VERY SERIOUS RIGHT NOW.
YOU'VE GOT A CHEEKY SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
YOU THINK IT'S GONNA WORK?
I'VE GOT TO SAY, I HAVE MY DOUBTS.
BUT THE PROOF, AS THEY SAY, IS IN THE PUDDING,
SO WHEN THE RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED,
AND WE SEE WHETHER PORTELA HAVE WON OR NOT,
WE'LL KNOW WHETHER ALL THIS WAS WORTHWHILE.
Woodman: PORTELA ARE PARADING TONIGHT,
AND TICKETS TO THE SAMBADROME WHERE THE EVENT TAKES PLACE
ARE THE HOTTEST IN TOWN.
SO SECTOR NINE IS 540.
WHAT'S THE PRICE OF YOUR BOXES?
[ WHISTLES ]
REALLY?
7,500 REALS.
WELL, I'VE BEEN DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH
INTO THE COST OF A TICKET TO GO AND SEE THE SAMBA PARADE,
AND TO SAY IT VARIES WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
THE CHEAPEST PRICE I'VE BEEN QUOTED IS $240 U.S.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE SEATS IN THE HOUSE CAN GO FOR $5,000.
FOR THE MAIN TOURIST SECTION, SECTOR NINE,
WHICH IS WHERE MOST TOURISTS GO,
THE PRICES GO FROM ABOUT $380 U.S. UP TO $800 U.S.,
DEPENDING ON WHO YOU SPEAK TO.
THEY'RE THE SAME TICKETS, JUST ONE AGENCY CHARGES
MORE THAN TWICE THE PRICE OF ANOTHER AGENCY.
IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD SCALPING,
BUT IF I WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH,
I HAVE TO ACCEPT BEING CHARGED OVER THE ODDS.
[ CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING ]
WELL, HERE WE GO. THIS IS IT.
MONTHS OF PLANNING AND PREPARATION
AND GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH MONEY
HAVE ONE INTO TONIGHT, THE BIGGEST PARTY IN THE WORLD.
THEY'RE OFF.
GOOD LUCK, PORTELA!
WHOO!
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
THIS IS IT, THE CENTER OF ALL THE ACTION.
THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF THE CARNIVAL.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE SAMBADROME,
THE PORTELA FLOATS AS THEY'RE COMING UP.
YOU GET A REAL SENSE OF HOW ENORMOUS IT IS.
WHAT A VAST WORK OF CHOREOGRAPHY IT IS.
IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
YOU SEE THE SIZE OF IT AND HOW ENORMOUS IT IS.
ONE THING OCCURS TO ME --
HOW AND WHOM PAYS FOR ALL THIS?
WITH THE CARNIVAL CENTERPIECE NOW OVER,
I'VE COME TO THE MADUREIRA DISTRICT IN NORTHWEST RIO,
HOME TO THE PORTELA SAMBA SCHOOL.
I'M HERE FOR THE RESULTS OF THE SAMBA PARADE.
FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT, THIS IS LIKE THE ASHES,
THE WORLD CUP, THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE,
AND THE SUPER BOWL ALL ROLLED INTO ONE,
AND THEY'RE GONNA ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
WITH A HUGE PRIZE UP FOR GRABS,
THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON THESE RESULTS.
IT'S A TWO-HORSE RACE NOW,
AND UNFORTUNATELY, PORTELA AREN'T ONE OF THEM.
IN THE PREVIOUS NINE YEARS,
THE SAME SCHOOL HAS WON SIX TIMES.
IS BEIJA-FLOR A MUCH BIGGER SCHOOL?
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?
BICHEIROS?
AND WHERE DO THE BICHEIROS GET THE MONEY FROM?
SO, NO BICHEIRO, NO WIN?
WELL, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH MY MACUMBA MAGIC
DIDN'T DO THE TRICK FOR PORTELA TODAY.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE THEIR YEAR.
THE PEOPLE HERE ARE PRETTY CROSS.
THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN ROBBED,
AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE SCHOOLS WHO DID WELL TODAY
GET A LOT OF MONEY FROM THESE GUYS CALLED BICHEIROS,
AND THEY GET THEIR MONEY FROM A GAME CALLED THE JOGO DO BICHO
THAT PEOPLE PLAY ON THE STREETS OF RIO.
Woodman: IT'S NOT JUST PORTELA SUPPORTERS THAT SEEM UNHAPPY
THAT CERTAIN SAMBA SCHOOLS ARE BEING BANKROLLED BY BICHEIROS.
THE NEWSPAPERS ARE ALSO MAKING THE LINK
WITH THE CARNIVAL'S MAIN TOURIST EVENT.
BICHEIROS, THEY PUT MONEY INTO THE SAMBA PARADE.
YOU KNOW, CARNIVAL WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS
WITHOUT THESE GUYS AND THEIR SUPPORT.
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT,
IF YOU LOOK INSIDE THE NEWSPAPER,
THREE OF THE BICHEIROS
WHO FUND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SAMBA PARADES LAST NIGHT
HAVE RECENTLY BEEN THROWN IN JAIL.
THERE'S NO DOUBT
THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BICHEIROS,
THE ILLICIT JOGO DO BICHO GAME, AND SOME SAMBA SCHOOLS,
BUT WHY ARE THE BICHEIROS SO KEEN
TO INVEST HUGE SUMS OF MONEY
INTO THE SAMBA SCHOOLS AND THE PARADE?
WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM, AND WHY ARE THREE BEING ARRESTED?
IS IT DUE TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE ILLEGAL JOGO DO BICHO,
OR IS THERE MORE TO IT?
PLAYING THE GAME FOR MYSELF WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START,
BUT TO DO THAT,
I'M GOING TO NEED SOME LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.
SO, LARO, CAN YOU TAKE ME TO PLAY THE JOGO DO BICHO?
OKAY, THANKS, LARO.
Laro: THANK YOU.
IT'S FUNNY THAT LARO WOULDN'T HELP ME
ACTUALLY FIND A JOGO DO BICHO PLAYER.
HE WAS A BIT NERVOUS ABOUT IT,
SO I'M GONNA GO AND TRY AND FIND A GAME ON THE STREET,
AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO FILM UNDERCOVER.
SO, I'LL BE WEARING MY GLASSES CAM,
AND I'LL ALSO BE FILMING FROM MY LITTLE BAG.
AND LETICIA, WHO'S GONNA BE MY TRANSLATOR,
WILL BE FILMING FROM A SECRET CAMERA, AS WELL.
THIS ALL HAS TO BE COMPLETELY UNDERCOVER.
HELLO.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN PLAY JOGO DO BICHO?
YEAH, BUT WHERE?
CAN'T PLAY ANYMORE.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN PLAY JOGO DO BICHO AROUND HERE?
OF COURSE HE KNOWS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL,
BECAUSE WE CAN BE POLICE LOOKING FOR IT.
YEAH.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN PLAY SOME JOGO DO BICHO AROUND HERE?
EXCUSE ME.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN PLAY JOGO DO BICHO AROUND HERE?
AT LAST, SOME HELPFUL PEOPLE.
AND WITH SOMETHING TO GO ON, IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
TO SPOT WHAT THE BRAZILIANS CALL AN APONTADOR, OR ***.
LARO TOLD ME THAT JOGO DO BICHO IS A LOTTERY TYPE DRAW,
WHERE PLAYERS BET ON A SERIES OF NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMALS.
OKAY, YEAH, ONE ON THE EAGLE.
IS THERE A HORSE?
YEAH.
Leticia: YEAH, THE DOG.
OH, YEAH, DOG.
AND WHAT TIME IS THE -- IS THE DRAW?
3:00.
AND WHERE IS THE -- WHERE IS THE DRAW?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
HE'S SAYING THEY PASS TO HIM THE INFORMATION OF THE DRAW.
RIGHT, SO YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE DRAW HAPPENS.
IT'S A SECRET.
CHAO.
CHAO.
WELL, I FOUND AN APONTADOR, AND I HAVE PLAYED JOGO DO BICHO.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE WASN'T HAPPY TO TALK TO ME ON CAMERA,
ALTHOUGH HE WOULD TAKE MY BET.
IT'S FUNNY.
ONCE I KNEW WHERE TO FIND HIM,
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I ASKED EARLIER
MUST HAVE KNOWN WHERE HE WAS.
HE'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEIR STALLS.
IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS GAME.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE IT IS AND THAT IT GOES ON,
BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WHO ARE THESE BICHEIRO CHARACTERS?
WHY DO THE BICHEIROS PUT MONEY INTO THE SAMBA SCHOOLS?
OKAY, SO, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS,
IT'S LIKE A MONEY LAUNDERING OPERATION.
THEY PUT THEIR ILLEGAL MONEY INTO THE SAMBA SCHOOL,
AND THEN THEY GET LEGITIMATE MONEY BACK
THROUGH TICKET SALES AND SPONSORSHIP,
AND PRESUMABLY, PRIZE MONEY, AS WELL?
IT'S FINALLY MAKING SENSE.
IF LARO IS RIGHT, IT SEEMS SOME OF THE SAMBA SCHOOLS,
AND ULTIMATELY, CARNIVAL'S NUMBER-ONE TOURIST ATTRACTION
COULD PROVIDE A PERFECT FRONT FOR MONEY LAUNDERING
ON A MASSIVE SCALE.
AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO FLICK ON ANY NEWS CHANNEL IN BRAZIL
TO SEE THE TRUE MAGNITUDE OF THE RACKETEERING.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
OPERATION FINGER OF GOD HAS ARRESTED 49 PEOPLE
WITH LINKS TO THE JOGO DO BICHO
AND SEIZED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
DESPITE THE ARRESTS,
ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING REMAIN UNPROVEN,
AND CONFRONTING A BICHEIRO IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AT THE MOMENT.
BUT THROUGH ONE OF OUR INFORMANTS,
WHO'S ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS,
WE'VE MANAGED TO TRACK DOWN SOMEONE PREPARED TO TALK TO US.
EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT YOUR ROLE IS IN THE JOGO DO BICHO.
HOW BIG A BICHEIRO IS YOUR BOSS?
SO, HOW MUCH CAN ONE OF THE TOP BICHEIROS MAKE IN A DAY, THEN?
IT STRIKES ME THAT THEY PUT AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY
BACK INTO THE CARNIVAL, AS WELL.
I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS HERE THAT A GOOD CHUNK OF THE MONEY
IS COMING FROM THESE INDIVIDUAL PATRONS
WHO ARE THE HEAD OF VARIOUS BICHEIRO NETWORKS.
IT'S IN ALL THE PAPERS.
IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS ON THE STREETS.
TO AN OUTSIDER,
IT WOULD LOOK LIKE QUITE A GOOD WAY
OF LAUNDERING ILLEGAL MONEY, TO PUT IT INTO A SAMBA SCHOOL,
AND THEN TAKE OUT THE MONEY LEGITIMATELY
AS SPONSORSHIP AND PRIZE MONEY AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN, THOUGH, DOESN'T IT?
[ LAUGHING ]
I THINK I'VE UNCOVERED AS MUCH OF THIS JOGO DO BICHO STORY
AS I CAN.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LAYERS AND LAYERS TO THIS,
AND IT'S AMAZING THAT DANI HAS SAID AS MUCH AS SHE HAS.
ACTUALLY, I THINK SHE PROBABLY REVEALS MORE
BY WHAT SHE WON'T SAY AS WHAT SHE WILL.
I CAME HERE LOOKING FOR TOURIST SCAMS.
WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT TO DISCOVER
WAS THAT THE MAIN SHOW EVERYONE COMES TO RIO FOR
COULD WELL BE A FRONT FOR MONEY LAUNDERING.
BEFORE LEAVING THE CITY,
I'VE BEEN INVITED FOR DINNER WITH JUNIO AND HIS FAMILY.
LETICIA.
HI.
MUCHO GUSTO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
JUNIO, EXCELLENT, REALLY NICE.
Sí.
PORTELA.
PORTELA, WE WERE ROBBED.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A CITY IN THE WORLD
WHERE PEOPLE ARE MORE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME.
AND EVEN KIND OF WHEN THE --
I DON'T KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE UP TO NO GOOD,
WHEN THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING MAYBE THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING,
THEY'RE STILL DOING IT WITH A SMILE.
I MEAN, I'D SAY TO ANYONE COMING HERE, BRING --
I WAS GONNA SAY BRING A WALLET FULL OF CASH,
BUT, ACTUALLY, BRING TWO WALLETS FULL OF CASH
'CAUSE YOU'LL PROBABLY LOSE THE FIRST ONE.
CARNIVAL IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR RIO'S MALANDROS.
AT ONE END OF THE SCALE,
YOU HAVE THE STREET HUSTLERS LOOKING TO TRICK THE TOURISTS...
...AND AT THE OTHER, ALLEGATIONS OF GANGSTERS
USING CARNIVAL TO LAUNDER THEIR DIRTY MONEY.
THE MALANDRO SPIRIT SYMBOLIZES
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD AND BAD ABOUT THE CITY.
SO, DESPITE ALL THE SCAMS,
I'D COME BACK TO RIO IN A HEARTBEAT...
EVEN DURING CARNIVAL.