Police crack down on international drug trade in São Paulo

Brazil’s Federal Police on Tuesday (Jul 19) launched an operation aimed at repressing organized crime and international drug trafficking. A total of 23 preventive arrest warrants have been executed in São Paulo, in addition to 24 orders of search and seizure.

Under Operation Bulk, law enforcement agents ordered the sequestration of all real estate, vehicles, and amounts deposited in bank s, as well as investments in the name of the investigated individuals. Assets may add up to BRL 53 million.

The probes began in 2021, when 887.5 kilos of cocaine were seized at nine events: three in Guarulhos, São Paulo, two in Lisbon, one in Frankfurt, and three in Amsterdam.

“The criminal organization would co-opt employees and airdrome service providers to introduce shipments of cocaine aboard commercial aircraft conducting regular flights. The flights departed from the Guarulhos International Airport,” the police said.

The investigators will be charged with the crimes of international drug trafficking and association for trafficking, with sentences ranging from ten to 25 years in prison.