Federal police officers today (9) are serving three preventive arrest warrants and three search and seizure warrants against suspected of shipping cocaine to Europe through the Portuguese island of Madeira. The warrants for Operation Madeira Connection were issued by the 7th Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the Federal Police (PF), the group used plane passengers, who boarded for Madeira Island, with cocaine in their luggage. From Funchal Airport, passengers took flights to Barcelona, Spain. As both countries belong to the Schengen zone (area of free movement of people that involves the European Union and other countries on the continent), the flight between Madeira and Barcelona is considered domestic.
As a result, according to the PF, the group avoided port inspection. The investigation began this year after the arrest at Rio de Janeiro International Airport (Tom Jobim/Galeão) of a couple with 5.2 kilos of cocaine. They were destined for the Portuguese island.
From there, investigators were able to identify three other accused of participating in the scheme. One of them was arrested today, in the community of Vidigal, in the south of the city of Rio de Janeiro. He was, according to the PF, with cocaine and hashish packed and ready to be dispatched by “mules” (passengers who take the drug from one country to another).
Two other targets have yet to be located. One of them is in Europe, according to the PF.
