Federal Police at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport carried out a series of integrated inspections between 19 and 31 December 2025 that led to significant arrests and seizures. During the operation, officers captured 13 individuals wanted on outstanding judicial orders, detained 13 people on suspicion of international drug trafficking and seized almost 100 kg of illicit substances, alongside two passports and a mobile phone recovered under judicial warrant.
Guarulhos drug seizures and arrests
Operations took place across the migration control area, aircraft aprons and customs checkpoints, with intelligence systems of the Federal Police providing support. The detained suspects held various nationalities, including Brazilian, Bulgarian, Venezuelan, South African, Thai, Swedish, Paraguayan and Nigerian. Authorities reported that the narcotics found in international baggage comprised haxixe, skunk, cocaine and amphetamine.
Two of the seizures were made with collaboration from Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service, which assisted customs officers in identifying suspicious consignments. In one instance, a person was also taken into custody for illegal possession of narcotics. Items seized under court order — two passports and a mobile phone — were forwarded to the competent judicial authorities.
The 13 fugitives arrested during the inspections were wanted on charges covering a range of crimes, including femicide, bodily injury, fraud, money laundering, organised crime, extortion, distribution of pornography and receiving stolen goods. Detainees were processed at the local police station and transferred to the prison system, where they will remain at the disposal of the respective courts.
Authorities emphasised that the measures form part of routine but intensified border-control activity aimed at disrupting transnational criminal networks that use commercial air travel to move drugs and illicit goods. The Federal Police noted that these operations rely on targeted intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and scrutiny of passenger luggage and cargo.
Officials also highlighted broader results for the full year: between January and 31 December 2025 the Federal Police at Guarulhos seized nearly 4 tonnes of narcotics — a historic record for the airport — and made 815 arrests. Of those, 302 were fugitives and 451 were passengers detained for drug trafficking; 187 cases involved narcotics concealed inside swallowed capsules.
Public-security authorities said investigations are ongoing and encouraged travellers to comply with customs and migration procedures. The Federal Police reiterated that anyone with information about transnational trafficking may contact the relevant offices to assist enquiries.
For media enquiries, the Communications Office of the Specialised Police Station at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport may be contacted at (11) 2445-2212.
Key Takeaways:
- Federal Police at São Paulo/Guarulhos carried out integrated inspections from 19–31 December 2025, resulting in arrests and major seizures.
- Authorities detained 13 suspects for international drug trafficking and captured 13 fugitives; nearly 100 kg of narcotics were seized.
- Guarulhos drug seizures included haxixe, skunk, cocaine and amphetamine found in international baggage, with support from Receita Federal in two cases.
- In 2025 the airport recorded nearly 4 tonnes seized and 815 arrests, underscoring intensified border controls.
