The Civil Police of the State of São Paulo launched an operation this Wednesday aimed at dismantling a criminal association suspected of adulterating cocaine with caffeine to illegally expand the supply of the drug on the market. Among the targets of the action is the municipal secretary of Housing of Taboão da Serra, Márcio Alfredo Ferreira, who had search and seizure warrants executed by the courts. The information was obtained by the report. A lawyer is also the target of warrants.
Caffeine and cocaine?
The investigation indicates that the group would have acquired around 81.5 tons of caffeine, which would be used to adulterate cocaine and quadruple production of the drug. The scheme, which involved individuals and shell companies, would have generated around R$25 million and produced approximately 320 tons of adulterated drugs, distributed not only in the capital and Greater São Paulo, but also in states such as Paraná and Rio de Janeiro.
To date, two people have been arrested — including one of the suspects in Santana de Parnaíba and another in the west zone of the capital of São Paulo — and 31 court orders are being fulfilled, including 27 search and seizure warrants and four temporary arrest warrants.
Investigation and seizures
The investigations began around five months ago, after the arrest of a man with more than half a ton of caffeine in Guarulhos, which led civil police officers to discover the method used to adulterate the cocaine.
During the operation, 12 cars, two motorcycles, cash, cell phones and weapons were seized. The seized material must be examined to help clarify the level of participation of each person investigated in the criminal scheme.
Authorities comment on the operation
The Secretary of Public Security of the State of São Paulo, Osvaldo Nico Gonçalves, — who recently took charge of the department after a long career in the Civil Police — has highlighted the importance of structured actions to combat organized crime, reinforcing the state’s commitment to identifying and dismantling complex schemes like this, which involve large-scale production and money laundering.
In a statement released during the operation, the general delegate of the Civil Police, Artur Dian, highlighted that the corporation is committed to fully clarifying the case and holding everyone involved accountable, using the intelligence and investigation resources available. The corporation highlighted that joint action between departments, such as Denarc and specialized teams, is fundamental to the success of the operation.
