READ-Brazilian Federal Police Launch Crackdown on Cocaine Smuggling Network Targeting South Africa

São Paulo, Brazil – October 24, 2025 – Brazil's Federal Police have executed a series of operations aimed at dismantling an international cartel involved in transporting cocaine from São Paulo to Johannesburg, South Africa, for further distribution to global markets.

The initiative stems from a four-month investigation that began on June 12, 2025, following the interception of an attempt to smuggle approximately 160 kilograms of cocaine into the restricted area of São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport. Authorities documented the effort using surveillance footage, which revealed the group's reliance on two vehicles: one serving as a scout to detect police presence and the other to deliver the drugs directly to the airport's secure zone. A complicit airport terminal employee facilitated the diversion of the contraband onto flights bound for Johannesburg, primarily utilizing cargo aircraft rather than passenger mules.

On October 16, 2025, Federal Police carried out five search and seizure warrants as part of the ongoing probe. While specific arrests from this phase remain unconfirmed, the operations have uncovered additional evidence of the cartel's activities.

Recent related incidents include the discovery last month of 55 bricks of cocaine in an abandoned box marked for South Africa near the airport's cargo facility, accompanied by a cellphone and power bank. On October 12, 2025, three passengers arriving from South Africa were detained with nearly 100 kilograms of cannabis and 6 kilograms of hashish, while a Brazilian national boarding a flight to Johannesburg was apprehended carrying over 7 kilograms of cocaine concealed in pillowcases.

The network's operations highlight South Africa's growing role as a transit point for South American cocaine, entering via Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport or Durban's port before processing in Gauteng for local consumption and export. Over the past year, South African authorities have arrested more than 22 suspected drug mules at OR Tambo, including six individuals in late 2024 linked to Brazil-South Africa routes: five at OR Tambo and one in São Paulo. In July 2025, Namibian national Pauline Mbangula received a five-year prison sentence for smuggling cocaine in 68 ingested packets after her arrest in September 2024 on a flight from São Paulo to OR Tambo.

These seizures occur amid heightened vigilance ahead of the holiday season, a period noted for increased drug trafficking attempts. The South African Police Service has incorporated anti-trafficking measures into its festive safety protocols, focusing on border security and network disruptions, as directed by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

The Brazilian efforts underscore the necessity of cross-border collaboration in combating transnational drug networks, with routes like those between Brazil and South Africa serving as critical pathways for illicit trade.