On Friday, police in Mato Grosso state arrested two individuals during an operation aimed at a criminal gang suspected of drug trafficking and corrupting minors in the town of Itaúba, located 599 km from Cuiabá. Investigations revealed that the group utilized minors to transport narcotics between various cities in the region, which poses a significant risk to the youth involved.

The police pointed out that these minors were dubbed 'mules' as they carried drugs to municipalities such as Peixoto de Azevedo, Matupá, and Guarantã do Norte. To evade law enforcement detection, the gang organized drug deposits in smaller towns, indicating a strategic shift in their operations to enhance illicit drug distribution. This tactic not only exposes teenagers to crime but also disrupts community safety.

Furthermore, the Civil Police noted that the criminal faction had restructured its logistics for drug commerce, making significant changes in how drugs are stored, transported, and distributed. This operation, which involved nine judicial orders including five search and seizure warrants and two preventive arrest warrants, underscores the ongoing challenge faced by law enforcement in combating drug trafficking and protecting vulnerable minors in Brazil.