The Federal Police is carrying out, this Thursday (31), an operation to dismantle a criminal organization that sent drugs by planes bought and adapted in Brazil to Central American countries.
The “TUUP” operation fulfills six preventive arrest warrants, seven temporary arrest warrants and 14 search and seizure warrants, as well as warrants for the kidnapping of immovable property, in the states of Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Goiás, São Paulo, Amapá, Santa Catarina and Ceará, issued by the Federal Court.
According to the PF, the group modified three aircraft at a private airfield in the municipality of Nova Ubiratã (MT), which belongs to one of the accused of leading the gang, who is being investigated for having allowed the use of the place and for having helped in three criminal actions.
Changes to the aircraft allowed carrying from 400 to 800 kilos of cocaine. The drug was flown by planes to countries such as Guatemala and Belize in Central America, having in common the incineration of the devices after delivery of the material.
Investigations showed that the first flight with 735 kilograms of cocaine took place in August 2020, bound for Guatemala.
There, the drug was seized and the plane, which landed on a clandestine runway, was found burnt out two days after leaving Brazil, according to the country’s police authorities and public ministry.
Other aircraft used to transport drugs were also seized in Belize in October and December 2021 and completely incinerated.
- Federal Police execute warrant against gang transporting drugs to Central America / Federal Police
According to the PF, the planes were registered under the names of oranges, who had no financial conditions, without any relation to the aeronautic activity. In addition, the gang used fraudulent flight plans and practiced irregular flights, which jeopardized air safety.
The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) also participates in investigations with technical support to assist the team in triggering the police operation.
Those investigated will answer for the crimes of association with trafficking, international drug trafficking and financing of trafficking, and also for the crime of attacking the safety of air transport.
The word “Tuup”, is of Mayan origin and indicates the action of “setting or setting fire”, conduct adopted by the investigated group to eliminate possible traces left on aircraft used in the transport of narcotics.
Source: CNN Brasil
