Brazil police seize more than 1,300 kg of drugs and arrest over 800 in nationwide crackdowns

In late May, the Rio Grande do Sul Military Police carried out the 27th edition of the national Operation Força Total, arresting 564 people and seizing 1,055 kg of illicit drugs, 28 firearms and 356 stolen vehicles across the state. The nationwide effort involved over 123 000 police officers and resulted in a total of 4,394 flagrant arrests, the confiscation of more than a tonne of drugs and 656 weapons.

From 22 to 28 June, integrated forces (FICCOs) across Brazil conducted coordinated actions that seized an additional 319 kg of marijuana in Balsa Nova, Paraná, and smaller quantities of cocaine, skunk and other contraband in Roraima, alongside the recovery of vehicles and firearms. The operations also led to the arrest of several criminal suspects, including a money‑laundering suspect holding R$ 700 000 in cash and a leader of an organized crime group. Combined, the police actions across the two weeks resulted in the seizure of over 1,300 kg of drugs and the arrest of more than 5,000 individuals nationwide.