Minas Gerais police arrest suspects in bacon theft and illegal horse‑meat scheme

In Patos de Minas, police apprehended two men, aged 21 and 46, after surveillance footage showed them stealing a pair of flip‑flops and a vacuum‑packed piece of bacon from a supermarket. The suspects were stopped on the street, detained, and the stolen bacon, valued at about R$67, was recovered and returned to the store. Police also seized the flip‑flops and R$70 found on one of the men.

Separately, in Campo Belo, two men, 43 and 47, were arrested by the Minas Gerais Civil Police while transporting 165.6 kg of horse meat that authorities suspect was being sold as beef. The haul included the meat, slaughtering tools, phones and a notebook with sales records. Investigators uncovered evidence of illegal, unsanitary abattoir practices and possible environmental violations linked to the disposal of horse carcasses.

Both arrests highlight ongoing concerns about food‑safety violations and illicit meat trade in the state.