The Brazilian Federal Police (PF) announced on 4 May that it had arrested five people and confiscated half a kilo of undeclared gold plus several kilos of cocaine at São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport during the Labour-Day long weekend (1–3 May). One Chinese national bound for Hong Kong was caught with raw gold hidden in hand luggage, while three separate incidents involved couriers attempting to smuggle cocaine internally and taped to the body. Officers also executed outstanding arrest warrants for violent crimes and confiscated a passenger’s passport under a judicial order, underscoring the growing practice of using border-control points to enforce domestic legal actions. The PF stepped-up patrols after intelligence suggested that traffickers would exploit the reduced staffing typical of public holidays.
![Federal Police seize gold and narcotics in Guarulhos holiday crackdown]()
Whether you’re a corporate travel planner coordinating last-minute visas or an individual preparing documentation for high-value shipments, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The company’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) consolidates e-visa applications, passport services and consular updates, helping travellers stay compliant amid these tighter airport controls.
The operation is part of a wider “Safe Hubs” strategy that combines narcotics interdiction with financial-crime controls, including tighter scrutiny of cash and high-value commodities leaving the country. Since January the PF claims to have doubled gold seizures compared with the same period in 2025, reflecting concern that illegal Amazon mining profits are being laundered through air-cargo channels. For mobility managers and travel security teams, the message is clear: expect more random secondary inspections at GRU and other international airports, longer queues at customs, and stricter enforcement of declaration rules for valuables. Travellers carrying samples, electronic equipment or precious-metal prototypes should have supporting documents ready to avoid delays."
Whether you’re a corporate travel planner coordinating last-minute visas or an individual preparing documentation for high-value shipments, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The company’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) consolidates e-visa applications, passport services and consular updates, helping travellers stay compliant amid these tighter airport controls.
The operation is part of a wider “Safe Hubs” strategy that combines narcotics interdiction with financial-crime controls, including tighter scrutiny of cash and high-value commodities leaving the country. Since January the PF claims to have doubled gold seizures compared with the same period in 2025, reflecting concern that illegal Amazon mining profits are being laundered through air-cargo channels. For mobility managers and travel security teams, the message is clear: expect more random secondary inspections at GRU and other international airports, longer queues at customs, and stricter enforcement of declaration rules for valuables. Travellers carrying samples, electronic equipment or precious-metal prototypes should have supporting documents ready to avoid delays."
