On Monday, authorities in Manaus arrested three men suspected of being part of a criminal organization, seizing a significant one-ton cache of skunk marijuana, along with R$ 340,000 in cash and a vehicle. The operation was primarily carried out by the Department of Narcotics Investigation (Denarc), with assistance from the Special Operations and Resources Coordination (Core-AM). The arrested individuals, aged 26, 44, and 48, were apprehended in the Centro neighborhood, a central area in the city.

The police revealed that the organization was led by a 48-year-old man of Colombian origin who holds dual nationality. This individual was identified as a key player in transporting drugs via the Negro River and had been under police surveillance for some time. The leader and his accomplices were caught shortly after withdrawing large sums of cash from a local bank, where they had just completed transactions exceeding R$ 100,000, documented by numerous withdrawal slips found among them.

This operation highlights ongoing efforts by Brazilian law enforcement to tackle organized crime and drug trafficking, particularly in the Amazon region. The seizure is significant given the scale of the operation, and it points to the complexities of drug transport and distribution networks operating through various waterways in Brazil, reflecting broader issues of drug-related crime affecting both urban and rural communities.