The Highway Police in Quadra, São Paulo, arrested two men on Thursday morning for suspected smuggling of medications and perfumes. The operation took place on the Castello Branco Highway (SP-280), where authorities seized a large quantity of products that were allegedly brought from Paraguay without proper documentation. This seizure is part of a larger issue in the region regarding illegal goods crossing the border from Paraguay.

According to police reports, these items are becoming increasingly common in the area, which has gained a reputation as a significant entry point for smuggled drugs and other contraband. The police highlighted that the situation has escalated, with earlier data indicating that just in the first 20 days of January 2026, over 5,500 units of illegal weight-loss medications were seized in the vicinity of Itapetininga, São Paulo. This indicates a trend of rising smuggling activities, particularly involving drugs that are not approved for sale in Brazil.

The two suspects were arrested in the act and subsequently taken to the Federal Police headquarters in Sorocaba, São Paulo. The ongoing investigation sheds light on the extensive network of smuggling operations that utilize the main highways in the state. As authorities continue to clamp down on these activities, the wider implications for public health and safety are a significant concern, urging officials to take further action against illegal trafficking routes.