In Rio de Janeiro, gangs like the Pure Third Command are intertwining Evangelical Christianity with criminal activities, branding their drugs with religious symbols. The rise of these ‘Narco-Pentecostals’ has led to increased violence and religious intolerance, particularly against Afro-Brazilian faiths in the areas they control. Former gang member turned pastor Diego Nascimento highlights the contradictions between faith and crime in this environment, while sociologists warn of a growing siege mentality among Rio’s poor communities.