Military Police seized about 250 bars of marijuana and three .380-calibre pistols from a house in the Vigilato Pereira neighbourhood of Uberlândia.[1] The house had been rented less than a month earlier and was being used as a depot for drugs and weapons.[1] A 25-year-old man was arrested in flagrante at the house.[1] Teams acted after receiving a tip about drugs and weapons stored in the house.[1] The tip indicated a load would leave the house that day, prompting an operation supported by the Pégasus helicopter.[1] During the operation, an officer used a ladder to look over the wall and spotted the suspect.[1] Officers interpreted his movement toward the back as an attempted escape.[1] The team at the front broke open the gate, entered and immobilised him.[1]
Inside, officers found boxes of marijuana, little furniture and a mattress on the floor.[1] The refrigerator was off, there was little food in the kitchen and coffee powder was scattered on the floor.[1] Police said the coffee had been used to try to mask the smell of the drugs.[1] The young man told police he was guarding the house.[1] The owner said he had rented the house to him.[1] The suspect indicated weapons were in another room.[1] In a bag, officers found three pistols and eight magazines.[1] All the weapons had their serial numbers suppressed.[1]
An opening in a bedroom wall led to a small room under construction.[1] Officers suspect the space would also be used to store drugs.[1] Officers found cardboard boxes and materials indicating preparation of the bars for transport.[1] Police believe the house served as a temporary point for storing and packing marijuana before shipment to another city.[1] The load’s destination and any link between the suspect and a criminal organisation remain under investigation.[1] The young man’s role and that of possible other participants will be examined by the Civil Police.[1]
