Federal Revenue seizes record volume of cocaine

Brazil seized 25.3 tons of cocaine destined to Europe and Africa in the first semester of 2019, 90% more than the same period last year. Nearly half of the drugs were found in the Port of Santos, not far from where police recently arrested two men suspected of belonging to the Italian mafia ‘Ndrangheta’.

Customs officials attributed the increased apprehensions to better intelligence and greater vigilance in Brazil’s borders.

Last year 31.4 tons of cocaine were seized, a record that will surely be reached this year.

The amount of cannabis confiscated more than doubled to 10.2 tons from January to June, compared to 3,900 tons annually.

Brazil, which has about 17,000 kilometers of land borders, is an important center for international drug trafficking.

Drugs produced in Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Paraguay are smuggled into Brazil and later shipped mainly to European markets. In addition, some routes to Africa are also opening.

Cocaine seizures have soared in recent years from 958kg in 2014 to last year’s record of 31.4 tons.

Source: Mercopress

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