Over Half a Tonne of Cocaine Found at Port of Santos Bound for Europe

The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 664 kg of cocaine to Belgium through the Port of Santos on Thursday (22). The seized drug was hidden inside a shipment of 100 tonnes of hydrocarbon resin.

According to authorities, the cocaine was discovered during a joint operation involving customs teams from the Port of Santos and the airports of Guarulhos and Viracopos. The resin, commonly used in various industrial applications, was packed in 4,000 sacks, some of which had been tampered with and replaced with bricks of cocaine. The shipment was headed to the Port of Antwerp.

During the inspection, three sniffer dogs from Santos Customs, two from Guarulhos, and one from Viracopos all positively indicated the presence of narcotics. A forensic investigation will now be conducted as part of a federal police inquiry.

Upon confirmation of drug contamination in the cargo, the Federal Police (PF) was called to conduct forensic procedures and initiate a criminal investigation.

How the Selection Process Works

The selection of cargo is based on objective risk management and analysis criteria, as well as scanner image inspection. According to Receita Federal, these measures aim to ensure both the efficiency of foreign trade operations and the prevention of illicit activities at the Santos port complex.

An essential tool in these efforts is the use of Federal Revenue sniffer dogs.

Source: A Tribuna

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