African gangs using mail, courier services in Brazil to smuggle drugs to Europe

According to noticias.uol.com.br African gangs; primarily Nigerians, are using postal services in Brazil, to smuggle small amounts of cocaine to countries such as Spain, China, and the United Kingdom, where overseas operating networks have expanded the illegal trade. Due to Brazil’s strategic location with neighboring cocaine-producing countries, in addition to its frequent flights to Europe, these African gangs are wise in not only their choice of location for operation, but in their methods for smuggling cocaine. Through the use of particular objects such as toys and mules, the Federal Police of Brazil, has strengthened law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking. In 2012, the Federal Police decreased the amount of seized drugs from 2009 by 35% in which postal service smuggling was at a high and arrested 12 African gang members. To further efforts, the Federal Police stresses the necessity of compliance by other countries, to cooperate with ongoing and future investigations. However, they are finding that often other countries are not cooperating in the investigations. Authorities also have noticed a significant increase in illegal drugs being shipped to China.
Read Article