political transition to a democratic state, in the 1980s, and economic instability in the 1990s, which resulted in budget limitations to police forces, were partially responsible for the corruption and drug-related issues which marked rio de janeiro's reputation negatively on a global scale.

during this time, leaders of drug related organizations maintained control over areas of rio, mostly in the favelas, and petty street crimes drew the attention of visitors and cariocas alike - diminished police control in certain areas of the city allowed criminals to seek refuge in areas of difficult access.