Drones paralyzed airport operations. They were operated by... a drug gang

A drug gang that communicated during a cocaine smuggling attempt via drones paralyzed operations at the airport in Sao Paulo, eastern Brazil, for more than two hours.

The airport was blocked on Thursday morning after at least two drones appeared over the runway, authorities at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo said. More than 30 flights were canceled or delayed due to the suspension of the airport.

According to an investigation launched by the Brazilian gendarmerie, the drones were used to communicate between gang members who were trying to smuggle almost half a ton of cocaine into the airport. As a result of a raid that was ordered shortly after the drones appeared over the airport, security forces seized packages of cocaine near the airport. They were hidden in an area overgrown with low vegetation.

A representative of the gendarmerie, quoted by Radio Bandeirantes, revealed that the report of the appearance of drones over the airport in Sao Paulo came from one of the patrolling military officers. He claims that he saw at least three men in the vicinity of the airport at night. It is likely that they were controlling the drones. So far, as reported by the Brazilian gendarmerie, the police have not managed to arrest any of the gang members. (PAP)

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