Six British men have been arrested in Brazil following the seizure of more than four tons of cocaine, a record amount for the state of Santa Catarina, officials said. The drugs are valued at approximately £65.7 million (about $83 million USD).
The arrests occurred in Balneario Picarras, on Brazil's southeastern coast, after a month-long investigation by the Santa Catarina Civil Police's anti-drugs unit in Itajaí.
Police discovered 4,426 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a warehouse. Authorities described the find as the largest cocaine seizure in the state's history. Footage released by police shows handcuffed men being escorted into vehicles, some covering their faces.
Investigators began monitoring suspicious activity involving a white van several weeks prior. The van was seen being used to transport materials to the warehouse, with regular trips occurring between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Police became more suspicious after tracing two hired cars, a Hyundai Creta and a Nissan Kicks, to two British nationals.
During a 72-hour surveillance period leading up to the raid, officers used drone footage to establish a link between the van and the warehouse. Initial theories that the warehouse was used for food storage were dismissed due to insufficient electrical capacity for refrigeration.
Officers intercepted the van as it left the warehouse, finding approximately 5 kilograms of cocaine and materials used in tire manufacturing. The five occupants were detained. Upon gaining access to the warehouse, officers discovered a sixth British man guarding the shipment.
Inside, police found pallets wrapped in plastic film and concealed beneath rubber materials, along with large quantities of bleach. Investigators suspect the bleach was intended to mask the scent of the drugs from sniffer dogs. A police dog unit later confirmed the presence of further drugs within the shipment.
Santa Catarina Civil Police chief Marcelo Sampaio Nogueira stated that the operation was a historic moment for the police force. He added that while it is believed to be the largest single seizure in the state, it could potentially be the largest in Brazil, though this is yet to be confirmed.
Each kilogram of cocaine could fetch approximately £14,870 in the UK, according to Nogueira, placing the shipment's potential value at over £65.7 million.
The six British nationals were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic drugs. The British Embassy has been informed, and the men have been permitted to contact their families. Mobile phones seized from the suspects will be analyzed to determine the origin and destination of the drugs, as well as to identify any other individuals involved. Authorities are seeking preventive detention for the arrested men as the investigation continues into the possible involvement of a criminal organization.