Brazil’s Federal Highway Police (PRF) carried out the largest rifle seizure in its history on Wednesday, intercepting a truck loaded with weapons on the BR-277 highway in the municipality of Santa Terezinha de Itaipu, just a few kilometers from Foz do Iguaçu and the border with Paraguay.
The vehicle was reportedly transporting materials for animal feed production and had entered Brazil from Argentina, headed for the state of Minas Gerais. During the stop, the nervous behavior of the 28-year-old driver caught the agents’ attention, prompting a more thorough inspection. Under pressure, the driver admitted to hiding weapons in the cabin.
The search confirmed the presence of 25 rifles, 16 pistols, more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, and 127 magazines. Among the seized weapons were 22 rifles chambered in 5.56 mm, three in 7.62 mm, and two AK-47 assault rifles, widely used by criminal organizations worldwide. Authorities also found 14 pistols in 9 mm caliber and two in .40 caliber, along with thousands of rounds ready for use.
The PRF emphasized that this is the largest rifle seizure ever recorded by the agency, surpassing the previous record set in Rio de Janeiro in August 2020. The driver was arrested and handed over to the Federal Police in Foz do Iguaçu. An investigation was launched on charges of international firearms trafficking, a crime punishable by up to 16 years in prison in Brazil.
Authorities stated that the operation is part of the federal strategy "Brazil Against Organized Crime," aimed at combating criminal networks through enhanced controls in logistical corridors and border areas considered strategic for smuggling and illicit trafficking, such as the Triple Border region between Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina.