This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
Published on July 24, 2019, Brazilian authorities reported a significant surge in cocaine seizures in the first half of 2019. The country seized 25.3 tons of cocaine, a 90% increase from the same period in 2018.
According to officials, nearly half of the seized cocaine was found at Santos port in southern Brazil, a region known for its connection to the Italian mafia 'Ndrangheta. The recent arrest of two men suspected of belonging to the mafia further highlights the region's involvement in international drug trafficking.
Customs officials attributed the increase in seizures to improved intelligence and increased vigilance along Brazil's borders. The country's vast land borders, spanning over 17,000 kilometers, make it a crucial hub for international drug trafficking.
Drugs produced in Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Paraguay are smuggled into Brazil and then sent to mainly European markets. Some routes to Africa are also emerging, according to Arthur Cazella, a customs official.
The amount of cannabis confiscated more than doubled to 10.2 tons in the January-June period, up from 3.9 tons year-on-year. Cocaine seizures have soared in recent years, from 958 kilograms in 2014 to a record 31.4 tons in 2018.
