Brazil — Polícia Federal seizes 27 kg of cocaine and arrests five at Guarulhos airport
27+ kg cocaineGuarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil5 arrested
The Polícia Federal reported on August 25 that a week of operations at São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport between August 21 and 25 produced five arrests and more than 27 kilograms of cocaine. One man was caught in the act with a backpack holding 23 kg of cocaine found near the airport perimeter fence after Receita Federal flagged the package; two Bolivian nationals were arrested trying to board a flight to Lisbon with about 4.5 kg; and a Nigerian national was detained attempting to fly to Addis Ababa with cocaine swallowed in capsules.
Brazil — 254.85 kg of cannabis and hashish seized in two São Paulo highway stops
247 kg cannabis · 7.7 kg hashishMarília and Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil2 arrested
The São Paulo integrated organised-crime task force FICCO/SP, working with state highway tactical teams, seized 254.85 kilograms of drugs and arrested two people on August 24 in the interior of the state. Officers recovered 247.12 kg of cannabis from a vehicle near Marília and 7.73 kg of hashish hidden in a second car in Presidente Prudente. Both suspects were handed to Federal Police stations in Marília and Presidente Prudente; announced August 25.
Brazil — Operation Bóreas targets air bridge flying cocaine from Bolivia and Peru into Tocantins
Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil3 arrest warrants · 10 Interpol red notices sought
The Polícia Federal launched Operation Bóreas on August 25 in Palmas, Tocantins, against a network accused of organising flights, aircraft and clandestine airstrips to move cocaine and firearms from Bolivia and Peru into Brazil. Three preventive arrest warrants and three search warrants were executed alongside seizures of aircraft and the freezing of assets, and the PF asked Interpol to place ten investigated individuals on its Red Notice list. No drug weight was reported.
Argentina — 52.6 kg of cocaine found in a Bolivian tanker truck on Route 34 in Santa Fe
52.6 kg cocaineSanta Fe, Argentina1 arrested
Gendarmería Nacional road-safety officers from the Rosario-Victoria squadron stopped a Bolivian-plated tanker truck at kilometre 58 of National Route 34 heading for Campana, Buenos Aires province, and found two unusually heavy backpacks in the cab holding 50 rectangular packages. Field tests confirmed cocaine with a total weight of 52 kilos 611 grams. The Rosario federal prosecutor ordered the seizure of the drugs and the truck and the arrest of the Bolivian driver. Announced August 25.
Colombia — two women stopped at Bogotá's El Dorado airport with 10 kg strapped to their bodies
5.4 kg cocaine · 4.3 kg cannabisBogotá, Colombia2 arrested
Colombian National Police intercepted two passengers on a Cali-bound flight at El Dorado International Airport after security cameras flagged unusual movements, and found 18 packages taped to their bodies containing 5,445 grams of cocaine and 4,315 grams of marijuana. One woman is Colombian and one a foreign national; both were handed to the Fiscalía on manufacturing, trafficking and possession charges. Reported August 26; investigators are checking for a wider network.
Colombia — government reports 1,574 arrests and 23,642 kg of drugs seized since August 7
23,642 kg total since Aug 7 (12,296 kg cocaine)Meta, Magdalena and Caquetá, Colombia1,574 arrests · 10 extraditions
President Abelardo De La Espriella, speaking on August 25 after an extraordinary security council in Barranquilla, said 11 members of the Segunda Marquetalia's 53rd Front were captured in Puerto Gaitán, Meta, and two alleged Clan del Golfo members in Fundación, Magdalena, in the preceding hours. He also reported the destruction of a coca base processing laboratory in La Macarena. Since taking office on August 7 the government claims 1,574 arrests, 10 extraditions and 23,642 kilograms of narcotics seized, of which 12,296 kg is cocaine — a running national total rather than a single operation, so it is not counted in the tally below.