An American traveler, identifying as a citizen journalist, recently recounted a dramatic encounter with Brazilian police during an inter-state bus journey from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. The traveler, who prefers bus travel over flying, described waking to a sudden police interdiction, with officers boarding the vehicle, guns drawn, and issuing commands in Portuguese to disembark. This incident highlights the ongoing efforts by Brazilian authorities to combat drug trafficking on major transportation routes.
Upon exiting the bus, passengers were instructed to stand against a wall with their hands on their heads while police, accompanied by German shepherds, conducted thorough searches of individuals and luggage. The traveler was questioned extensively about their profession, criminal record, origin in the USA (San Francisco), and the absence of a suitcase, to which they responded, "I am a car salesman and a citizen journalist," and explained a minimalist travel style. Police specifically inquired, "Do you have any marijuana or cocaine?"
Such comprehensive bus interdictions are a common tactic employed by Brazil's Federal Police (PF) as part of their "Operação Rota do Tráfico" (Traffic Route Operation). These operations frequently target highways, particularly those originating from border regions with countries like Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia, which are known conduits for drug and arms trafficking into Brazil. The PF regularly seizes significant quantities of illicit substances and arrests individuals involved in these networks.
After approximately an hour of searching, authorities located a suitcase belonging to another passenger that was "full of shit," indicating a substantial drug find. Following the discovery and the removal of the suspect, the remaining passengers, including the American traveler, were permitted to continue their journey. The traveler concluded their account by referencing the popular Brazilian film "Tropa de Elite," a movie depicting the aggressive tactics of Rio's elite police squad in anti-drug operations, suggesting a perceived alignment with the intensity of their experience.