In 2024, Guarulhos International Airport recorded a record-breaking 587 drug trafficking arrests, averaging two per day, marking a 44.5% increase compared to 406 arrests in 2023. Despite this rise, the total amount of drugs seized decreased, from 2,982.7 kg in 2023 to 2,267 kg in 2024. Cocaine remains the most seized substance, with 1,793.8 kg intercepted.
The number of victims of robberies followed by murder increased in 2024 in São Paulo’s South, West, and North zones, with a total of 53 deaths, nearly half occurring in the South. A notable case was the murder of cyclist Vitor Medrado on 13 February 2025, in broad daylight in the West zone, sparking strong public reaction. In response, the police announced increased security measures, although authorities emphasize that the overall rate of violent crime remains historically low.
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30/01/2025 – On Thursday night (30/01), six Porsches, worth approximately R$3 million, were stolen from a parking lot on Rua Funchal, in Vila Olímpia, South Zone. Four vehicles were recovered thanks to their trackers in nearby neighborhoods, but two remain missing.
02/02/2025 – On Sunday afternoon (02/02), on Rua Engenheiro Augusto Durant, in Perus, North Zone, an 88-year-old man was fatally hit by a motorcyclist while crossing at a pedestrian crosswalk. The motorcyclist, who was reportedly performing wheelies according to the victim’s family, fled the scene before later turning himself into the police.
03/02/2025 – On Monday (03/02), residents of Jardim Pantanal, East Zone, protested on Avenida Doutor José Artur da Nova, near Rua Beira-Rio. Protesters set objects on fire on the roadway, and the Military Police intervened to monitor the demonstration.
03/02/2025 – On Monday (03/02), a Bolivian couple abandoned their one-day-old newborn daughter in a garbage bag in the eastern zone of São Paulo. A neighbor, alerted by her cries, contacted the military police. Law enforcement quickly intervened.
03/02/2025 – On Monday (03/02), a 47-year-old nursing technician stabbed a 56-year-old colleague in the human resources department of Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital, located on Martinico Prado Street in the Consolação district. The attack occurred after he was fired on suspicion of stealing patients’ personal belongings.
04/02/2025 – On Tuesday (04/02), a task force discovered 23 mobile phones and other prohibited items in the cells of the Presídio da Polícia Civil, in the Carandiru district, North Zone. These cells house civil police officers accused of corruption, denounced by Vinicius Gritzbach, who was executed in November 2024. This operation is part of the investigation into his murder.
05/02/2025 – On Wednesday (05/02), the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse flood victims gathered in front of Escola Municipal Murures in Jardim Helena, East Zone. The confusion began after the announcement that registrations for the R$1,000 emergency aid were being halted due to suspected fraud.
05/02/2025 – On Wednesday (05/02), in the Chácara Santo Antônio neighborhood, a thief was caught on security cameras stealing a luxury car from a parking lot on Rua Américo Brasiliense. The footage shows him entering the area, selecting a vehicle, and driving away. This incident occurred in the same neighborhood where a police chief was killed during a robbery in January.
06/02/2025 – On Thursday (06/02), a 32-year-old military police officer and digital influencer was shot dead in front of his home on Rua Flor de Minas, in the Jardim Paulistano neighborhood, North zone. According to witnesses, the attacker, a neighbor of the victim, owed R$300,00 for damaging the side mirror of his car. During their encounter, after a brief conversation, the suspect pulled out a gun and fired multiple times before fleeing.
08/02/2025 – Three officers from the 77th Police District (Santa Cecília) in São Paulo are suspected of involvement in a drug trafficking scheme. They were suspended on Saturday (08/02). Authorities carried out searches at their residences in São Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes, seizing electronic devices as part of the investigation. This case is linked to a previous operation in January, where two other officers were arrested, exposing deeper police corruption tied to narcotics distribution.
08/02/2025 – On Saturday (08/02), a 23-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in front of her home on Avenida Francisco de Santa Maria, in the São Mateus neighborhood, East Zone. Authorities suspect her ex-partner, with whom she had been separated for two years, of committing the crime.
09/02/2025 – On Sunday (09/02), in Jardim Pantanal, East Zone, two women illegally diverted and resold mattresses donated by the city to flood victims. Identified after an anonymous tip, they were arrested by authorities. Some items were recovered.
11/02/2025 – On Tuesday (11/02), a shootout between burglary suspects and the military police resulted in one person’s death in the Jardins neighborhood, South Zone. After burglarizing a house in the Itaim Bibi neighborhood, the suspects were located at the intersection of Avenida Nove de Julho and Rua Estados Unidos. During the chase, the driver tried to run over the officers, who responded by opening fire. One suspect was killed, and two others were arrested.
12/02/2025 – On Wednesday (12/02), the Federal Police launched an operation against a criminal network operating at São Paulo International Airport in Guarulhos, accused of concealing drugs in planes bound for Europe. The operation aims to execute six arrest warrants and eight search and seizure warrants. Investigations began after 82 kg of cocaine was seized on a flight to Portugal.
13/02/2025 – A cyclist was shot in the head in front of Parque do Povo, in Itaim Bibi, South Zone, on Thursday (13/02). Surveillance footage shows two men on a motorcycle approaching the victim. One of the attackers shot, while the other got off to steal the victim’s phone before fleeing.
13/02/2025 – On Thursday (13/02), a motorcyclist was shot and injured during a robbery attempt on Avenida Santo Amaro, in Brooklin, South Zone. Five hours earlier, a cyclist had been killed by a thief on Avenida Henrique Chamma, Itaim Bibi. Police suspect the same criminal committed both attacks.
15/02/2025 – A 67-year-old woman was assaulted during an attempted robbery on Avenida Doutor Francisco de Paula Vicente in the Continental neighborhood, West Zone, on Saturday night (15/02). The attackers arrived on a motorcycle, tried to steal her ring, and, failing to remove it, one bit her finger while the other kicked and pushed her. The criminals fled.
16/02/2025 – A man robbed a church on Avenida Doutor Gastão Vidigal, in Vila Leopoldina, West Zone, on Sunday (16/02). He was arrested the next day while on parole after a previous robbery conviction. He was also involved in the assault of a 67-year-old doctor the day before, leaving her seriously injured over her ring.
16/02/2025 – A military police officer shot two people during an argument with her boyfriend at the Vila JK nightclub, in Vila Olímpia, on Sunday (16/02). During the argument with her boyfriend, the officer allegedly pointed a gun at him, and a shot was fired, hitting a woman in the leg and a man in the foot. Neither victim was related to the officer or her boyfriend. The officer was arrested.
18/02/2025 – On Tuesday (18/02), the police arrested Suedna Barbosa Carneiro, known as “mainha do crime” (The Little Mother of Crime), accused of being the leader of a gang operating in the Itaim Bibi neighborhood, South Zone. She is suspected of leading the gang responsible for the murder of cyclist Vitor Medrado during a robbery on 13 February in front of Parque do Povo. Although she was not directly involved in the murder, she facilitated criminal activities in the city by funding criminals. The police seized firearms and stolen items during her arrest in Paraisópolis.
20/02/2025 – On Thursday (20), a 19-year-old Bolivian woman was rescued from a situation akin to slavery in a luxury condominium in the Panamby neighborhood, South Zone. She was held captive, deprived of food and communication with her family, and had received only one salary of R$2,000 in six months of work.
20/02/2025 – A 52-year-old woman was stabbed to death by a taxi driver on Thursday night (21), on Rua Mamoré in Bom Retiro, central São Paulo. The crime occurred inside the taxi, and the perpetrator, who was allegedly in a relationship with the victim, fled the scene. The case is being investigated as femicide.
20/02/2025 – On Thursday night (20), a man was shot by a military police officer during an attempted robbery in Vila Cruzeiro, South Zone. The suspect, along with an accomplice, was attempting to rob a group of people in front of a market when the police intervened. One suspect was shot, the other apprehended, and a toy gun was seized.
20/02/2025 – A woman was arrested after stabbing two people during an argument at the Lila Covas Women’s Shelter, in the Casa Verde neighborhood, North Zone, on Thursday (20). One victim, also a resident of the shelter, died, while a staff member was injured. The incident occurred on Avenida Sebastião Henriques and is being investigated as a homicide and attempted homicide.
20/02/2025 – A 20-year-old student was fatally shot on Thursday (20), during a fight with a retired military police officer at Vila Matilde station on Line 3-Vermelha of the São Paulo Metro. The altercation began on the train and escalated to a physical fight on the platform, where the officer shot the student. The officer has been arrested and charged with homicide.
21/02/2025 – On Friday (21), in the Mata Porco Favela, in Vila Ema, East Zone, two military police officers assaulted and threatened a man who had been apprehended during an intervention. Filmed slapping him and pointing a gun at his head, they were suspended by the PM’s Internal Affairs on Wednesday (26).
22/02/2025 – A man died, and three other people were injured in a knife attack at a bar in the Campo Limpo, South Zone, around midnight on Saturday (22). An unknown assailant started an argument with customers and stabbed four people, including a waiter who tried to intervene. The suspect fled the scene and has not been located.
22/02/2025 – An 18-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her boyfriend on Saturday (22), in his apartment in the Cidade Patriarca neighborhood, East Zone. According to initial reports, the crime occurred after an argument, and the boyfriend fled the scene, leaving a message on social media suggesting possessiveness as a motive. He remains at large.
22/02/2025 – Actress Maria Ribeiro reported being robbed at gunpoint in São Paulo on Saturday (22), around 1:00 AM. Her unlocked phone was stolen, resulting in approximately R$30,000 being transferred from her bank account without her authorization. Ribeiro expressed frustration with the bank’s security measures despite her attempts to block cards immediately after the robbery.
22/02/2025 – On Saturday (22), at Boteco Dona Tati, in the Santa Cecília neighborhood, Central region, a woman was assaulted by the bar owner, who smashed a glass bottle on her face. Injured, she filed a complaint for bodily harm.
23/02/2025 – During the 2025 pre-Carnival celebrations in São Paulo, at least 880 cell phones were stolen or robbed between Saturday (22) and Sunday (23). Two women were arrested on Sunday (23) at the corner of Avenida Arquiteto Carlos Bratke with Rua Bragança Paulista, in Santo Amaro, South Zone, with 16 stolen phones. The thefts occurred at the Bloco Modo Surto, of the singer Luiza Sonza. Despite this, the total number of thefts and robberies during the pre-Carnival period decreased by 62% compared to the previous year.
24/02/2025 – On Monday (24), an operation of the Federal Police and Rota discovered a PCC “bunker” in Paraisópolis, South Zone, containing grenades, weapons, ammunition, and 50 kg of cocaine. The operation was launched after three people were arrested after the interception of a suspicious vehicle on Avenida Bandeirantes, near Congonhas Airport, which was transporting weapons and drugs hidden in secret compartments. The investigation revealed that the site served as a tactical base for violent operations, including bank robberies and the kidnapping of authorities. The investigation is ongoing.
25/02/2025 – A civil police officer was arrested on Tuedsay (25), in São Paulo, as part of Operation Hydra, which targets money laundering by the PCC through fintechs. According to Financial Intelligence Reports (RIFs) from the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf), the fintech 2GO Bank, led by the officer, allegedly conducted cryptocurrency transactions suspected of being linked to terrorist organizations, though their names were not disclosed. The investigation revealed that these fintechs received drug trafficking funds and laundered them through real estate transactions. The court ordered the blocking of 27 million reais and the suspension of the involved banks’ activities.
25/02/2025 – While committing a motorcycle robbery on Rua das Flechas in Vila Cruzeiro, South Zone, on Tuesday (25), two men were apprehended by police after being stopped by a retired military officer. They were later identified as suspects in the January armed robbery and murder of police delegate Josenildo Belarmino de Moura Júnior in the Chácara Santo Antônio neighborhood. One suspect was injured and taken to the hospital, while the other was taken into custody. A third suspect, identified as the shooter, remains at large.
25/02/2025 – On Tuesday (25), three armed men robbed a Caixa Econômica bank branch located on Yervant Kissajikian Avenue, in Cidade Ademar, South Zone. After entering through the rooftops, they took the employees hostage and locked them in a room before escaping with a large sum of money, the exact amount of which has not been disclosed. The Military Police intervened, but no suspects have been arrested. The Federal Police have taken over the investigation.
25/02/2025 – On Tuesday (25), a foreign man was shot and killed by armed criminals during an attempted robbery at a bus stop on Rodovia Raposo Tavares, at km 17.800, in Jardim Boa Vista, West Zone. The victim, a 46-year-old Haitian, was shot in the chest and died at the scene. The assailants, riding a red motorcycle, fled after the crime.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Stay away from any protest most likely to occur in the city center, including Avenida Paulista, the MASP, Praça do Ciclista, Praça da Sé, Largo da Batata, and Praça da Republica. Monitor the local media to circumvent protest locations, including social media.
- If caught in a demonstration:
- remain still and take the time to see which way the crowd is going,
- attempt to leave the area by going against the movement of the crowd,
- avoid using your mobile phone, taking pictures, or filming the demonstration,
- Go to the nearest building as soon as possible and wait until the situation clears,
- try to avoid contact with security forces, if possible.
- Attention when walking downtown São Paulo, especially in Liberdade and Sé districts, and on Rua 25 de Março.
- At night, these regions are no-go zones.
- Considering the high crime rate of some locations in São Paulo, business travelers, and expatriates should comply with security rules to reduce the risks linked to violent crimes.
- In case of an assault, it is strictly recommended not to resist and avoid making any abrupt movement that may irritate criminals, who do not hesitate to open fire.
- Avoid, if possible, circulating through the neighborhoods in the East and North Zones, and peripheral neighborhoods in other zones due to the high rates of various crimes.
- Due to several police operations, drug users previously concentrated in a region called “Cracolândia” have spread across downtown, leading to an increase in petty crimes and violent aggressions. Hence, avoid walking around with your cell phone in your hand, in addition to wearing jewels and expensive watches.
- As sexual aggressions are on the rise, women should pay special attention to the environments where they go to, avoid empty and dark places.
- During a night out, never accept offers (food and beverage) from strangers, as they can put some drugs on it. Men and women alike are targets of such crimes.
- Attention to the windows when inside a vehicle. Keep them closed, as criminals use heavy traffic to rob passengers with exposed valuables, like a cell phone.
- Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
- Be careful when trying to meet new people on the internet as criminals use dating apps and social networks to apply scams and assaults.
- The number of express kidnappings is still high.
- Criminals use violence to make their victims transfer all their money via PIX.
- Cooperate to mitigate the risk of violence.
- Keep in mind useful numbers: Emergency police number (190), and São Paulo tourist Police (+55 11 3120 4417).
