Cocaine was hidden in cosmetic products: The shipment from Brazil was tested in Lisbon, the operation caught seven suspects

Portugal became a critical transit control point in the operation against an international drug network suspected of sending cocaine in cosmetic products from Brazil to Germany.

The suspicious cargo, which was followed in a controlled manner within the scope of Operação Anticaspa carried out by the Brazilian Polícia Federal and the German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), was sent from São Paulo to Europe. The shipment was checked by Portuguese authorities during transit in Lisbon and a rapid test confirmed the presence of cocaine.

After this, instead of stopping the cargo, it was followed to Berlin within the scope of a controlled operation.

Cocaine was hidden in cosmetic products

According to the statement of the Brazilian Federal Police, the investigation began upon information that some people purchased the products of a Brazilian cosmetics company and used them to send drugs to Germany.

It was assessed that the suspects concealed cocaine in the packaging or contents of cosmetic products.

With the permission of the federal court in Brazil, a controlled pursuit operation called "ação controlada" was launched.

The police followed the process from the preparation of the cargo at a residence in Diadema to its delivery to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport.

Testing was carried out in Lisbon, shipment was not stopped

The cargo sent to Europe was transferred in Lisbon.

According to the official statement of the Brazilian Federal Police, Portuguese authorities where he performed a rapid test and confirmed the presence of cocaine in the load.

Since the aim of the operation was to reach the network's connections in Europe, the cargo was allowed to continue on its way in a controlled manner and the shipment was tracked to Berlin.

German police tracked the cargo to a warehouse in Berlin.

Seven people were caught

Four provisional arrest warrants and five search warrants were issued in Brazil. In the first phase of the operation, three of these four suspects were caught.

In Germany, three people were detained in the warehouse where the cargo arrived.

Another suspect escaped but was later captured in Turkey.

Thus, according to the first operation results announced, a total of seven people were caught in Brazil and Europe; The search for a suspect in Brazil was continuing.

The amount of cocaine has not yet been determined

Another important detail about the operation is that the exact amount of drugs seized has not yet been disclosed.

German judicial authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the net weight of cocaine in cosmetic products.

Therefore, it is not possible to give an exact amount of kilograms at the current stage.

The guilt of the people detained and investigated during the operation has not been established; The final legal evaluation will be made as a result of the judicial processes in the relevant countries.

Resources

Polícia Federal do Brasil — September 15 2026

https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2026/09/pf-e-policia-alema-desmantelam-esquema-de-trafico-internacional-de-cocaina-para-a-alemanha/

Portugal Resident — 16 September 2026

https://www.portugalresident.com/portuguese-police-help-break-cocaine-in-cosmetics-trafficking-route/