The Brazilian Federal Police (PF) on Tuesday arrested at least 15 people as part of a Portuguese-backed anti-drug operation targeting a group that bribed airport employees to ship cocaine to Europe.
The so-called Operation Bulk involved hundreds of agents who have so far executed 15 of the 23 arrest warrants issued, as confirmed by the police authority in a preliminary report.
The measures are taken simultaneously in the municipalities of São Paulo, Sorocaba, Guarulhos and Praia Grande, issued on the 5th. Federal Court of Guarulhos in the São Paulo metropolitan area.
According to the Brazilian Federal Police, “the warrant is also issued in Portugal by decision of the judiciary due to the red transmission transmitted by Interpol after the submission of the federal police.”
During the police action, real estate and cars were confiscated, and the bank accounts of the persons involved in the case were blocked for a total of 53 million reais (about 9.6 million euros).
The investigation began last year and included the seizure of 887.5 kg of cocaine in nine different operations: three in Guarulhos, three more in Amsterdam, two in Lisbon and one in Frankfurt.
“The criminal organization operated by co-opting airport employees and service providers to deliver drugs inside the aircraft,” which always departed on commercial flights from Cumbica International Airport in the municipality of Guarulhos and flew to Sao Paulo, the statement said. from the Brazilian Federal Police.
According to the information, there was a hierarchical organization that coordinated all the logistics outside the airport, such as storing large quantities of drugs and negotiating with recipients in Europe.
The detainees were transferred to the police headquarters in Sao Paulo and will have to answer before the court for crimes related to drug trafficking and the criminal community, with sentences of 10 to 25 years in prison.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
