Brazil’s busiest international gateway, São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU), is under heightened security as the Federal Police (PF) intensify enforcement ahead of Christmas. Between 19 and 22 December, PF officers executed 11 separate operations that resulted in four fugitives captured, two drug couriers arrested after swallowing cocaine capsules, and multiple passengers caught with counterfeit passports or large undeclared sums of foreign currency.
The crackdown forms part of Operação Fim de Ano—the same multi-agency surge that has boosted ANAC inspectors nationwide. At GRU, PF has doubled canine units, deployed plain-clothes document specialists and installed mobile X-ray scanners for outbound luggage on high-risk routes to Europe and Africa.
![Federal Police Holiday Crackdown at São Paulo-Guarulhos Nets 11 Arrests and Fake Passports]()
Whether you’re applying for a Brazilian visa on short notice or need help coordinating travel documents for onward destinations, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The platform offers real-time entry updates, online applications and secure document couriering, reducing the chances of issues during GRU’s heightened checks. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/.
For global mobility teams the message is clear: travelers should expect more intensive secondary screening, particularly if they hold multiple passports, carry large cash amounts or have one-way tickets. Companies moving staff through GRU are advised to review compliance with Brazil’s cash-declaration threshold of R$10,000 (≈US$2,000) and ensure employees can document the purpose of travel.
PF officials say the operation will continue through 5 January and could be extended if passenger flows remain elevated. Early results suggest the deterrent effect is significant: GRU has seen a 27 percent drop in forged-document incidents compared with the same period in 2024.
The crackdown forms part of Operação Fim de Ano—the same multi-agency surge that has boosted ANAC inspectors nationwide. At GRU, PF has doubled canine units, deployed plain-clothes document specialists and installed mobile X-ray scanners for outbound luggage on high-risk routes to Europe and Africa.
Whether you’re applying for a Brazilian visa on short notice or need help coordinating travel documents for onward destinations, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The platform offers real-time entry updates, online applications and secure document couriering, reducing the chances of issues during GRU’s heightened checks. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/.
For global mobility teams the message is clear: travelers should expect more intensive secondary screening, particularly if they hold multiple passports, carry large cash amounts or have one-way tickets. Companies moving staff through GRU are advised to review compliance with Brazil’s cash-declaration threshold of R$10,000 (≈US$2,000) and ensure employees can document the purpose of travel.
PF officials say the operation will continue through 5 January and could be extended if passenger flows remain elevated. Early results suggest the deterrent effect is significant: GRU has seen a 27 percent drop in forged-document incidents compared with the same period in 2024.
