Oct 15, 2011

Brazil to Speed Up Issuing Tourist Visas

North Americans to Benefit Most from Changes

BRASILIA – The Minister of Tourism, Gaston Vieira said on Friday that the federal government is studying ways to speed up the granting of visas to foreign tourists. According to Vieira, the changes will primarily benefit Americans, Canadians and Mexicans.

Image of Tourist Visa issued by Brazil

Update: U.S. Medical Waste Seized at Port of Suape

Update: U.S. Medical Waste Seized at Port of Suape
by Michael Hone

Federal Prosecutors Join Investigation

RECIFE, Brazil – Two days after seizing a second container with 23 tons of medical waste illegally shipped from the United States bound for a textile company in Pernambuco, the Customs Revenue Office at the Port of Suape has asked Federal Prosecutors to enter the case.

Hazardous medical waste from South Carolina seized at the Port of Suape, Brazil on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Pink Dolphin Population Declining in Amazon

Brazil News

| MANAUS, Brazil – Each year, the population of pink river dolphin (inia geoffrensis) decreases 10% due to poaching in the Amazon region, according to a new study conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA).

Amazon Pink River Dolphin (inia geoffrensis)

Oct 14, 2011

Angolan Caught at Airport with Cocaine

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – Federal Police (PF) at Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio on Thursday afternoon arrested Yabadi Minich, 50, an Angolan national, accused of international drug trafficking. She tried to board a flight to Luanda, Angola, with 51 hair brushes packed with cocaine.

Cylindrical hairbrushes containing 5 kg cocaine seized at Rio de Janeiro's Tom Jobim International Airport

Oct 13, 2011

Thai Arrested with Cocaine in Tuna Cans

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – The Federal Police (PF) held on Wednesday, at the Guarulhos International Airport, a 21-year-old Thai massage therapist trying to carry 5 kilos of cocaine to Qatar. According to the PF, the drug was hidden in five cans of tuna found inside her suitcase.

Cocaine hidden inside cans of tuna seized from Thai national heading to Qatar

Twenty Tons of U.S. Medical Waste Seized

Twenty Tons of U.S. Medical Waste Seized
by Michael Hone

Second Shipment from Same U.S. Company This Week

RECIFE, Brazil – Federal tax authorities on Tuesday seized a shipping container filled with over 20 tons of medical waste at the Port of Suape in Pernambuco. This was the second container seized this week shipped from the same U.S. company.

Bales of dirty sheets among other medical waste seized at the Port of Suape on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Former Argentine Major to be Extradited

Former Argentine Major to be Extradited
by Michael Hone

Accused of Killing Political Prisoners During Dirty War

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Thirty-five years after allegedly participating in the massacre of 22 political prisoners – shot on December 13, 1976, during Argentina's military dictatorship – former Major Norberto Raul Tozzo, 66, will be extradited to Argentina on Monday.

Former Argentine Major Norberto Raul Tozzo mug shot after being arrested in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2008

Cougar Cornered in Yard by Family Dog

Cougar Cornered in Yard by Family Dog
by Michael Hone

Wildlife in Metropolitan Sao Paulo not Unusual

SAO PAULO, Brazil – A resident of Jaragua, in the Northern Zone of Metropolitan Sao Paulo, found a cougar in the backyard of the family home early on Thursday. The family dog helped to contain the animal while the firemen came to the rescue.

Cougar caught in backyard by family dog in metro Sao Paulo

Oct 12, 2011

Man Accused of Raping and Killing Sister

Man Accused of Raping and Killing Sister
by Michael Hone

Suspect was the last person seen with the girl while she was alive

FORTALEZA, Brazil – Early Wednesday morning, police arrested a man suspected of raping and killing his sister, aged 9. Francisco Antonio Cosmo de Melo, also known as “Neguinho da Bastiana”, 26, was apprehended in the city of Itati, in the interior of the state of Ceara, 216 km from the capital, Fortaleza.

Francisco Antonio Cosmo de Melo, 26, also known as Neguinho da Bastiana accused of raping and killing sister, 9

Rio's Iconic Statue of Christ Turns 80

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – The iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, high above the city with its outstretched arms seemingly embracing the the whole of humanity, turns 80 today. Standing 130 feet tall and weighing 700 tons, the art deco statue, made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, debuted on October 12th, 1931.

Christ the Redeemer, illuminated at sunset turns 80 today

Oct 11, 2011

Paraguayan Busted with Ton of Pot

Brazil News

| CURITIBA, Brazil – Special Federal Maritime Police (DEPOM) seized about 1 metric ton of marijuana Monday night in the Itaipulândia area of Foz do Iguaçu in the state of Paraná. Maritime officers, on patrol on Lake Itaipu, spotted a suspicious boat apparently crossing from Paraguay with no running lights and decided to investigate.

Special Maritime Police with Boat Seized From Paraguayan Containing Over One Metric Ton of Marijuana

Have You Misplaced a Million Dollars?

Have You Misplaced a Million Dollars?
by Michael Hone

If so, Brazil is looking for you

BELEM, Brazil – Federal Tax Authorities are looking for the owner of almost one million U.S. dollars, plus smaller amounts of other foreign currencies, abandoned by its owner on a cargo plane flying from Sao Paulo to Belem, Para, in April. If the owner is not located by November, the money will be forfeited.

Almost a Million U.S. Dollars abandoned in Belem

Oct 10, 2011

Over One Ton of Pure Cocaine Seized in Suape

Over One Ton of Pure Cocaine Seized in Suape
by Michael Hone

Interpol to Investigate Shipment Bound for Europe

RECIFE, Brazil – Over the weekend, Federal Police (PF) in the Port of Suape seized over 1,200 pounds of pure cocaine bound for Europe via Africa. The cocaine was inside a shipping container and packaged to look like bags of gypsum, reported various Brazilian media outlets.

Over One Ton of Pure Cocaine Seized in Suape – Apparently Headed for Europe via Africa

Hostage Rescued After Toilet Paper SOS

Hostage Rescued After Toilet Paper SOS
by Michael Hone

Woman Was Kidnapped Eight Days Earlier

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Police rescued a kidnap victim on Sunday after a passer-by reported finding an SOS message written on a piece of toilet paper. The victim wrote the message then threw the paper out of the space where she was being held captive hoping somebody would find it and turn it into police, reported O Globo online.

SOS Written on Toilet Paper Leeds to Rescue of Kidnap Victim

Driver Mows Down 21 People in MG

Driver Mows Down 21 People in MG
by Michael Hone

One of the Victims Died This Morning in Hospital

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – A driver leaving a religious festival on Sunday night ran down 21 people in Bom Jardim das Pedras, a small town 125 km from the state capital of Minas Gerais. One of the victims died this morning in hospital, according to the Military Police (PM). The PM alleges that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Suspected Drunk Driver Mows Down 21 People in Minas Gerais