On April 22, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese), with the support of Pernambuco’s Military Police Battalion, seized 650 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the cargo compartment of an airplane. The drug was divided into several packages and bags. The operation resulted in the seizure of the aircraft, eight vehicles, a 380-caliber pistol, 12 cell phones, and many documents, according to information from PF’s Office of Public Affairs.
The operation was launched at Igarassu Airfield, in the municipality of the same name located 27 kilometers from Recife, capital of Pernambuco state, in Northeast Brazil. Authorities arrested nine people during the operation, including the airplane pilot and a woman who, according to PF, was the leader of the group. The detainees were charged with international narcotrafficking and sent before the Federal Court.
According to PF, the drug could have been sent in ship containers to Africa to be distributed in Europe. “When this drug reaches Europe, the value is three times higher than here, so this was very valuable cargo, equivalent to millions of dollars,” said Passos.