Jun 26, 2019

Brazil officer traveling with Bolsonaro to G20 arrested for cocaine haul

Rebecca Falconer

President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro looks on during the Copa America Brazil 2019 Opening Ceremony on June 14, 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. — Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro. Photo: Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tweeted Wednesday he's launched an investigation after an officer traveling in a presidential plane to the G20 summit in Japan was found with 86 pounds of cocaine when he stopped off in Spain.

Details: El Pais first reported a Brazilian Air Force officer traveling with Bolsonaro's G20 contingent was arrested at Spain's Seville airport. Authorities said they found the packages in his hand luggage, per El Pais.

I demanded immediate and severe punishment for the person responsible for the narcotic substance found in the military plane. We won’t tolerate such disrespect to our country!"

— Translation of Bolsonaro's tweet

Why it matters: Bolsonaro was elected on a populist platform with a mandate to be tough on crime, vowing to take a hardline approach to drug traffickers. drug traffickers.

Go deeper: Arrival of Brazil's Bolsonaro draws praise from Trump, fear from critics

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Brazil officer traveling with Bolsonaro to G20 arrested for cocaine haul

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