Massive drug trafficking operation busted in Paranaguá, Brazil

The Federal Police (PF), Civil Police (PC-PR), and Federal Revenue met the preventive detention warrants, search, and seizure in Operation Downfall, launched on the morning of Thursday (4) in the region of the Port of Paranaguá, on the coast of Paraná, against a criminal organization linked to international and interstate drug trafficking.

According to the Federal Police, the city’s port region was used to move drugs by criminals, who exported large amounts of cocaine and other illicit drugs in containers. The destination of the drugs was mainly European ports, according to the investigation.

The administration of the Port of Paranaguá said it will not comment because the operation occurred at the Paranagua Container Terminal (TCP), owned by private companies.

Until the publication of this report, the Federal Police had not informed how many people had been arrested in the operation nor the amount of drugs and materials seized. The police said that during the investigation 5.2 tons of cocaine were seized.

In all, 117 court orders were part of the operation, with 30 preventive arrest warrants and 87 search and seizure warrants at addresses, besides Paraná, in seven other states: Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, Goiás, and Espírito Santo.

The operation consisted of 500 police officers, with the support of 25 auditors from the Federal Revenue and Customs secretariat.

According to the PC-PR, sequestration of property, blocking of assets, and financial investments all accumulated to an estimated value of more than R$ 1 billion.

Logistical structure for international drug trafficking

According to the Federal Police, the criminal organization had a logistical structure to operate interstate and international drug trafficking, producing drugs abroad, entering and transporting them within Brazil, and preparing and sending cocaine by sea.

According to the Federal Police, the drug produced by the group had as its main destination the ports of Europe, so the crime took place mainly in the region of Paranaguá, where they exported large amounts of cocaine.

According to the PC-PR, the group hid the drugs in licit cargo and container coolers and used divers to insert the drugs in submerged compartments of the ships, among other methods.

The investigation also indicated that the criminal organization’s profits were being used for investments such as the purchase of aircraft, boats, companies, real estate, weapons, and ammunition.

Money laundering and investment in real estate

The crime of money laundering was also investigated by the operation, such as the investment in real estate on the coast of Santa Catarina, with the acquisition of high-standard apartments and financing of other projects.

The construction companies and companies involved in the scheme were also targets of the operation because, according to the investigation, they are suspected of conducting fraudulent or undeclared legal business.

Source: G1

To read the full original story, access: https://g1.globo.com/pr/parana/noticia/2023/05/04/operacao-em-paranagua-cumpre-mandados-de-prisao-busca-e-apreensao-contra-suspeitos-de-narcotrafico-interestadual-e-internacional.ghtml

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