At least 48 tons of marijuana worth around R$50 million wholesale were seized in a Military Police operation in the Parque União and Nova Holanda communities of Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 — the largest drug seizure in the country’s history.[1]
More than 250 officers with armored vehicles and aircraft took part in the raid targeting criminal groups and vehicle and cargo robberies.[1] Sniffer dogs from the BAC battalion located the stockpile in a bunker on a construction site: more than 24,000 tablets of about two kilograms each, hauled out in cargo trucks.[1]
Officers also seized five rifles, four pistols, lança-perfume flasks and about 200 liters of production material, and recovered 26 stolen vehicles — nine cars and 17 motorcycles.[1] One man was arrested and taken with all the material to the 21st precinct in Bonsucesso; police also found a container used to store drugs in a warehouse near Avenida Brasil in Nova Holanda.[1]
The previous national record was 36.5 tons found in a soy truck by the Mato Grosso do Sul highway police in 2021.[1] On Wednesday, April 15, the Rio Civil Police incinerated the 48 tons at Cidade da Polícia in Jacarezinho under expert supervision of the ICCE institute, as required by Law 11.343/2006, estimating losses of up to R$150 million to the criminal factions.[2]