Property destruction: On 15 March 2025, in Guaruja (Sao Paulo), Civil Police officers seized two tons of cocaine in a selective collection truck on Idalino Pines street, in the Jardim Boa Esperanca neighborhood. The action followed investigations by the Specialized Division of Criminal Investigations (Deic), which monitored a suspicious shed. When questioned by the agents, the occupants claimed that the truck was transporting recyclable material for Guaruja City Hall, but did not produce any documents. The police found two thousand bricks of cocaine hidden under the recyclable waste. The officers arrested three people and seized empty pins used to distribute the drugs.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

Summary

On March 15, 2025, a drug smuggling case using recycling collection vehicles was uncovered in Guarujá, São Paulo State, Brazil. The Civil Police discovered 2 tons of cocaine while investigating a suspicious warehouse, and suspects falsely claimed they were transporting recyclables for Guarujá City Hall. Classified as a low-grade strategic matter with limited immediate supply-chain risk.

Supply-chain impact

• Potential impact on regional environmental services supply chain due to reliability concerns in recycling and waste management services
• Possible cargo transport delays due to enhanced logistics security inspections in the São Paulo metropolitan area
• Increased administrative complexity due to heightened government oversight of public service contractors
• Highlighting of logistics security issues as a case of illegal transport network utilization within Brazil's southeastern major industrial region

Watch points

• Frequency of similar incidents within São Paulo State and whether authorities expand the scope of follow-up investigations
• Impact of enhanced cargo inspection measures in Guarujá and the nearby Port of Santos area on normal logistics flows