From Santos to Dubai: MPF links Iranians to international cocaine trafficking

The Federal Public Ministry states that two Iranian citizens arrested red-handed in Santos are part of a criminal organization with international operations focused on cocaine trafficking to the Middle East, mainly to Dubai.

Those investigated were arrested with around 180 kg of the drug, distributed in 178 tablets, which was hidden in coffee bags stored in a warehouse, with a declared destination of Dubai.

For Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime) of the Public Prosecutor's Office in São Paulo, the way the drug was packaged and the planned international route evidence a sophisticated criminal structure, with the operational capacity to ship narcotics on a large scale between continents.

In a statement signed by five public prosecutors, the agency stated that those being investigated are inserted "in a context of organized crime with transnational operations".

Saeid Sabouri, aged 52, and Nima Kenareifard, aged 25, were arrested red-handed on May 12th in the property where the cargo was stored. The Federal Court maintained the preventive detention of the two this Wednesday (3), after rejecting the requests for freedom made by the defenses. The case is pending at the 5th Federal Criminal Court of Santos, still in the police investigation phase.

Months of investigation
Civil police officers from Deinter-6 had been investigating for months an individual suspected of having relations with members of a criminal organization operating between Brazil and the Middle East, focused on international cocaine trafficking.

The police report describes that there was "a well-founded suspicion that the person under investigation was finalizing the procedures for the shipment of approximately 150 kg of cocaine destined for Dubai".

After three days of searching in an unmarked vehicle, the agents noticed unusual movement in the property. When they entered the warehouse, they found bags of coffee, barrels and boxes of beauty products.

The divergence of weight and texture between some bags led to all of them being opened. Part of them were 178 tablets of a white powder substance, confirmed as cocaine in preliminary analysis.

Saeid Sabouri, who was responsible for the warehouse, exercised his right to silence upon police approach. Six cell phones and electricity bills in his name were seized. Nima Kenareifard initially introduced herself as Sabouri's compatriot and interpreter, claiming to be there only to assist in the documentary clearance of goods destined for Dubai. Afterwards, he also chose to remain silent.

The civil police officer responsible for the incident reported that the two "showed visible nervousness" when informed about the suspected drug trafficking and "chose to remain silent".

International trafficking
The case arose in the Regional Court of Guarantees of the 7th Judicial Administrative Region of Santos, within the scope of State Justice. The judge declined the jurisdiction of the Federal Court, as it was trafficking of an international nature.

"The jurisdiction of the Federal Court to judge the crime of drug trafficking only becomes effective with sufficient proof of its international nature", cited the magistrate, based on precedent from the STJ (Superior Court of Justice).

The case was redistributed to the 5th Federal Criminal Court of Santos.

Conversion into pre-trial detention
At the custody hearing, the Federal Public Ministry expressed its support for the regularity of the arrest and the maintenance of pre-trial detention. The defenses requested the revocation of the arrests or the granting of provisional release with alternative precautionary measures.

The judge approved the arrests and converted them into preventive arrests, based on articles 312 and 313, item I, of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

In the decision, the judge pointed out that "the large quantity of narcotics seized, combined with the modus operandi employed, evidenced by the meticulous packaging of the drug in tablets and its concealment within a legal cargo destined for the outside, constitute vectors indicative of the magnitude and operational capacity of the criminal group".

Regarding the risk of escape, the judge highlighted that "the foreign status of both custodians, added to the obvious lack of links with the district of guilt, raises the risk of evasion to a concrete level."

MPF: transnational organized crime
The Public Prosecutor's Office in São Paulo presented a statement signed by five public prosecutors alleging that "the necessary structure for the shipment of narcotics on a large scale to other continents (the destination would be Dubai, in the Middle East) indicates that those in custody are inserted in a context of organized crime with transnational operations."

The agency maintained that the quantity of cocaine seized "removes the case from mere retail trafficking and places it on a level of major organized crime."

The MPF also refuted the defense's argument that geopolitical instability in Iran would reduce the risk of flight: "Both of those investigated are Iranians. Their status as foreigners, added to the obvious lack of links with the district of guilt, increases the risk of evasion abroad or seeking refuge in their countries of origin."

Defense contests grounds
The lawyers of those being investigated presented three requests for the revocation of preventive detention or the granting of provisional release with precautionary measures.

Kenareifard's defense argued that he has resided in Brazil for more than six years, carries out legal activity as an interpreter and had no illicit object seized in his possession, highlighting that "the investigation that preceded the arrest focused on the co-investigated Saeid Sabouri, responsible for the warehouse".

Sabouri's defense gathered documents proving fixed residence in Santos and regular migratory stay in Brazil, with an extension of stay granted by the Federal Police itself until July 2026. The defense argued that "those who intend to flee do not appear at the Federal Police to regularize their migratory situation."

Both defenses proposed electronic monitoring via ankle bracelet, passport retention and prohibition on leaving the country as alternatives.

Decision of June 3
The federal judge rejected all requests and maintained preventive arrests.

In the decision, the judge concluded that "there is no relevant change in the factual-legal framework that supported the decree of precautionary custody and the authorizing requirements of articles 312, caput, and 313, item I, of the Code of Criminal Procedure remain present", there was no basis for the revocation.

Regarding the proposal for an electronic ankle monitor and passport retention, the judge considered that the measures "are not sufficient to eliminate the risk of flight", highlighting that "Brazil has around fifteen thousand kilometers of dry borders where, for the most part, there is no entry and exit control".

The judge also rejected the defense's thesis that the use of an English interpreter at the custody hearing - and not Persian - would have vitiated the act. According to the decision, "the decision that converted the flagrant arrest into preventative arrest was not based on any statements made by those in custody at police headquarters or in court, but rather on objective elements contained in the records." For future acts that require Sabouri's participation, the judge determined that he be appointed as an interpreter qualified in the Persian language (Farsi).

The two suspects remain in custody at the São Vicente Provisional Detention Center, on the coast of São Paulo. The police investigation is still ongoing at the Santos Federal Police Station, there is no confirmation of the allegations mentioned and those investigated continue to have the right to full defense.

CNN Brasil seeks contact with those involved. The space remains open to demonstrations.

Source: CNN