Holiday travel at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport turned tense after Federal Police agents arrested a passenger who had swallowed 80 cocaine-filled capsules on 25 December. The seizure followed two similar interdictions at São Paulo/Guarulhos earlier in the week, prompting authorities to redeploy extra narcotics teams to the country’s busiest hubs until 2 January.
The Federal Police (PF) have asked airlines to stagger check-in times and warned travelers to arrive at least three hours before international departures. Ad-hoc interview procedures at the gate are adding up to 45 minutes to departure times, and carriers have issued travel advisories urging passengers to keep prescription medication in original packaging with a doctor’s letter.
For corporate-mobility managers the incident is a reminder that Brazilian airports can introduce sudden security protocols that disrupt tight itineraries. Companies with fly-in/fly-out staff should update travel alerts, arrange lounge access and build extra buffer time into connection schedules.
![Federal Police drug-mule bust at Galeão prompts tighter holiday screening]()
To avoid last-minute paperwork surprises, travelers can outsource their visa and document preparation to VisaHQ, which offers streamlined online processing for Brazilian e-visas as well as real-time status updates and courier pickup for passport renewals. Their dedicated Brazil page (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lets both individual passengers and corporate travel departments upload requirements, track applications and receive expert support, minimizing the risk of airport delays.
The PF emphasizes that the clamp-down targets organized crime—not legitimate passengers—but acknowledges that extended queues are inevitable during the peak year-end surge. Travelers can reduce stress by completing e-visa formalities in advance and ensuring passports and health declarations are in order.
Although the operation has not yet caused flight cancellations, travel-management firms report a spike in last-minute rebookings as passengers try to avoid the busiest time slots.
The Federal Police (PF) have asked airlines to stagger check-in times and warned travelers to arrive at least three hours before international departures. Ad-hoc interview procedures at the gate are adding up to 45 minutes to departure times, and carriers have issued travel advisories urging passengers to keep prescription medication in original packaging with a doctor’s letter.
For corporate-mobility managers the incident is a reminder that Brazilian airports can introduce sudden security protocols that disrupt tight itineraries. Companies with fly-in/fly-out staff should update travel alerts, arrange lounge access and build extra buffer time into connection schedules.
To avoid last-minute paperwork surprises, travelers can outsource their visa and document preparation to VisaHQ, which offers streamlined online processing for Brazilian e-visas as well as real-time status updates and courier pickup for passport renewals. Their dedicated Brazil page (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lets both individual passengers and corporate travel departments upload requirements, track applications and receive expert support, minimizing the risk of airport delays.
The PF emphasizes that the clamp-down targets organized crime—not legitimate passengers—but acknowledges that extended queues are inevitable during the peak year-end surge. Travelers can reduce stress by completing e-visa formalities in advance and ensuring passports and health declarations are in order.
Although the operation has not yet caused flight cancellations, travel-management firms report a spike in last-minute rebookings as passengers try to avoid the busiest time slots.
