8 Arrested For Internet
Drug Trafficking In
Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO - Eight
people were arrested
Friday in the
southeastern Brazilian
city of Curitiba during
an operation against
international drug
trafficking via the
Internet, Federal Police
said.
The police said the
criminals sent
prescription drugs on
the Internet, especially
morphine, sedatives and
psychoactive drugs, as
well as some drugs
containing opium, to the
United States, Europe
and Canada.
The drugs were disguised
in vitamin bottles or
hidden inside other
objects to be sent
abroad. At least four
pharmacies and one
medicine distribution
company in Curitiba were
involved in the case.
So far, 12 search
warrants have been
issued. The police have
already seized 22,000
reais (13,750 U.S.
dollars) and 2,000
pills, a handgun, a
motorcycle,10 cars and
some forged documents.
The investigations began
three months ago, when
the U.S. Drug
Enforcement
Administration (DEA)
contacted the Brazilian
Federal Police about a
seized shipment of
pills.
The DEA has collaborated
with Brazil's Federal
Police on the
investigations, managing
to seize 450 pills in
the U.S. territory
during the last three
months, and arrested two
people involved in the
scheme last week.
The names of the eight
people arrested on
Friday were not
disclosed. They will be
charged with
international drug
trafficking, medicine
forgery, criminal
association and money
laundering, police said. |
