Police Operation in São Paulo’s “Crackland” Arrests Seventeen Drug Traffickers

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The State Department of Prevention and Repression of Drug Trafficking (DENARC) launched yesterday morning, August 22nd, the Cracolândia (Crackland) 2019 Judicial Police Field Operation, intending to counter drug trafficking in the Nova Luz region, in the center of São Paulo.

Out of twenty search and seizure warrants and 21 arrest warrants in the region, DENARC police officers arrested ten suspects in eight hotels and pensions in the area on charges of trafficking. Another seven individuals were arrested in the act of drug trafficking, totaling seventeen arrests. The warrants are the result of six months of investigation by the 6th Drug Investigation Office (DISE).

According to Police Chief Rui Ferraz Pontes, the task has not been completed and will continue in the coming days. Three firearms, five cell phones and approximately 21 kilos of drugs were seized, in addition to R$800 found on site.

Bridges reported that among the 21 kilos of narcotics are one kilo of cocaine, ten kilos of marijuana, 1.5 kilos of crack, 8 kilos of “lança-perfume” (ethyl chloride), and eighteen grams of hashish.

According to the police, the operation was peaceful but not without the use of force. “It is important to understand that the police acted with the greatest possible discretion, including the civil and state police without a clash that could cause harm to the addicts at the scene.”

The action, which is part of the “Redenção 2” (Redemption 2) program, was planned by representatives of the Secretariat of Public Security and the mayoralty of São Paulo and occurred in a planned and concerted way for the protection and sheltering of the people in the area.

In all, 566 security officers were involved, with the support of approximately 140 vehicles and a Civil Police aircraft. The action in the region of Nova Luz relied on the help of the State Police traffic and territorial policing, battalions of the São Paulo State Police, and the Municipal Civil Guard.

Also, according to the precinct chief, organized crime has decreased in the region. “Organized crime had given up acting in that region since 2016 when the operation was directed to remove many tents from there; they have been careful, because of the instability there, in other words, they fear the presence of the State Police, the Municipal Guard, and DENARC”.