In a coordinated action, the Federal Police (PF) carried out the preventive detention of 16 suspects, divided between Guarulhos and São Paulo, involved in three cases of international drug trafficking via Guarulhos International Airport. The operation resulted in the shipment of approximately 120 kilograms of cocaine to Europe.
Currently, two suspects are still at large: a mastermind and an executor. Both are targets of temporary arrest warrants, totaling 18 warrants fulfilled so far.
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Among the cases investigated, one occurred in March, when two Brazilian women were unjustly detained for 38 days in Frankfurt, Germany.
The German police found cocaine in bags with the names of the Brazilians, however, the Federal Police investigation proved that the bags did not belong to them. The tags were exchanged by members of the criminal organization, who ended up being arrested.
The group's modus operandi extended beyond borders, sending drugs to Portugal in October 2022 and to France in March of this year. There are suspicions of other similar cases, since the organization operated in the airport for at least two years.
The executors were employees of the airport itself, while the principals, although with a history of working at the terminal, did not work directly at the facilities.
They planned and organized the actions, mediating the trafficking. The scheme involved camouflaging the drug as luggage for passengers flying to specific destinations, before shipping it to Europe.
The Federal Police is also investigating a possible connection between the criminal group and a criminal faction in São Paulo. During the operation, search and seizure warrants were carried out, in addition to arrests being made.
to fight these crimesand prevent future occurrences, measures are being implemented. Among them, the ban on the use of cell phones in the internal areas of the airport and the adoption of body cameras for employees stand out.
The PF points out that airlines and the airport concessionaire are responsible for establishing guidelines to combat this type of crime and ensure the safety of all passengers and employees involved in the operations.
