Illicit material arrived in Tabatinga yesterday (14) on board a River Patrol Vessel
By Agência Marinha de Notícias – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The Brazilian Navy (MB) seized around 1.17 tons of marijuana during a Naval Patrol operation on the Içá River, in the state of Amazonas. The illegal material was handed over to the Federal Police last night (14) and incinerated by the Civil Police in Tabatinga (AM).
The seizure took place on February 11 and involved the use of a River Patrol Vessel (NPaFlu) and MB sniffer dogs. The inspection activities were also supported by an embarked aircraft from the 1st Northwest General Employment Helicopter Fleet and a detachment of Marines from the 1st Riverine Operations Battalion.
On the occasion, the River Patrol Vessel intercepted a suspicious vessel, of the “rabetinha” type, which refused the stop order and tried to escape. A team of MB military personnel, specialized in boarding and inspection, was sent in the direction of the boat, which was found abandoned on the riverbank, without the presence of the crew, who fled the scene.
“We carried out an inspection with the help of sniffer dogs and found the presence of a narcotic substance, packed in several packages, stored in a false bottom. After thorough testing and weighing by the military, we found that there was 1,171.80 kilos of marijuana,” said a member of the operation.
The Brazilian Navy carries out daily Naval Patrol actions at sea and in inland waters throughout the country. This is a military activity, the purpose of which is to implement and monitor compliance with laws and regulations in Brazilian jurisdictional waters. In the Amazon and border regions, these actions are aimed especially at curbing environmental and cross-border crimes, such as international drug trafficking.
The Brazilian Navy’s presence in the Western Amazon, through the Command of the 9th Naval District, seeks to preserve the river lines of the Amazon River Basin, promoting navigation safety and assisting the State in combating various illegal activities, both independently and in conjunction with other public agencies.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***