Bolivian anti-narcotics agents, acting on intelligence supplied by Brazil’s Federal Police liaison office in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, arrested a 34-year-old Brazilian national on 11 July in connection with the audacious 2024 armed robbery of a cash-in-transit aircraft at Caxias do Sul Airport (RS). The suspect had been on the run since July 2025, when warrants were issued for the nine-member gang that stole more than R$ 14 million using vehicles disguised as police cars. The joint operation – coordinated under the Mercosur Police Cooperation Agreement – illustrates the growing reach of Brazil’s cross-border security attachments, which now total 21 liaison officers across Latin America, the U.S. and Europe. Extradition proceedings are under way; officials expect the detainee to be flown to Porto Alegre within ten days. Airport operators welcomed the arrest, noting that the 2024 incident prompted a nationwide audit of perimeter security and expedited investment in anti-ram barriers at 17 regional airports. The National Civil Aviation Security Committee is due to publish a progress report next month. For global-mobility executives the case is a reminder that smaller provincial airports can present elevated robbery risks for high-value cargo, including corporate payroll transfers and electronic components. Companies should review secure-logistics contracts and ensure drivers receive updated route-risk briefings. The PF emphasised that cooperation with neighbouring countries is essential for closing fugitive-safe-haven gaps and announced plans to station an additional liaison officer in La Paz by early 2027.
Source: Polícia Federal
