The São Paulo Civil Police arrested six people this Tuesday morning (14) for participating in a criminal network that adulterated and counterfeited alcoholic beverages in several cities in the state. One of them was arrested for illegal possession of weapons, in addition to forgery. 
During the Operation Poison Source (source of poison) 20 search and seizure warrants were executed in the capital of São Paulo and in the cities of Santo André, Poá, São José dos Campos, Santos, Guarujá, Presidente Prudente and Araraquara.
According to delegate Leslie Caran Petrus, coordinator of the operation, the investigations began after an incident that occurred around ten days ago. On that occasion, one of the largest suppliers of counterfeit inputs and drinks in Brazil was arrested.
“He sold bottles with labels, intact caps and seals, making it practically impossible to identify counterfeits. Then, we found out who purchased these products and we are going after them today”, explained the police officer.
The delegate explained that the prisoners acted in association, knowing about the forgery.
“Everyone is fully aware that they counterfeit the drink and sell it for well below cost. In some cases, they purchase counterfeit bottles, seals, and seals for the drink and fill it with a lower quality drink.”
According to her, several payments, conversations and shipments of inputs were found. Furthermore, there are indications that there was distribution to six other states.
Adulterated drinks
The general police chief of São Paulo, Arthur Dian, said that of these 20 locations, 13 had allegedly adulterated drinks. According to him, preliminary tests have already been carried out in some of these locations and tests are yet to be carried out in the rest.
“This is another operation that took place among the many we have already carried out. More than 12 establishments were closed and more than 30 people were arrested following cases of methanol poisoning”, he highlighted.
The Operation is part of the actions of the São Paulo Government’s crisis office to combat cases of methanol poisoning and is coordinated by the State Department of Criminal Investigations (Deic), through the 1st Investigations Station on Theft and Theft of Vehicles from Divecar and with support from the Brazilian Beverage Association (Abrabe).
