Police exchange fire with suspected drug traffickers at Brazil's Sao Paulo airport
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Federal Police officers engaged in a shootout with suspected armed drug traffickers Friday at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo after the suspects tried to smuggle a massive shipment of cocaine onto a Europe-bound aircraft.
According to police and local news reports, at least 10 armed individuals traveling in four vehicles entered a restricted cargo area near the runway, where federal agents intercepted them, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
No injuries or immediate arrests were reported, and the suspects fled toward a nearby river construction site.
Authorities recovered over 300 kg of cocaine, including at least five drug-filled suitcases that had already been loaded onto the plane, as well as four boxes abandoned on the tarmac.
A joint manhunt involving the Federal Police, State Military Police, Federal Highway Police, and Civil Police was launched to identify and apprehend the suspects. ■
