RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A Brazilian carnival, which drew 700,000 tourists this weekend, produced drug-trafficking and artistic freedom controversies, as well as fun, it was reported.
Suspicions of drug trafficking in connection with Mangueira, a prominent local school, and a float featuring nude Holocaust victims built by another school, Viradouro, raised questions of morality surrounding the annual festivities, the BBC reported Saturday.
An official said the low-income status of many residents in the area has linked them to "a certain kind of criminal faction."
The Holocaust float was banned from the carnival and torn down after Jewish community members reportedly spoke out in disapproval of its presence.
"We were trying to make a serious work, and people think we are trying to demean this or make it seem trivial. Viradouro is going to turn this around, and have found a solution ... we are now going to concentrate on freedom of speech," a designer of the float said.
Some city officials believe increased government funding for the festivities could cut down on criminal allegations and unlawful funding surrounding the event.
