02/02/2026 – In the early hours of Monday (2), a security guard was shot in the chest during a heist at the Parque Valongo construction site in the Port of Santos. A group of approximately ten criminals arrived by boat, taking one guard hostage while another managed to escape and call for backup. During the ensuing shootout, a guard was struck in the chest, but his life was saved by his ballistic vest. The robbers fled by boat toward Guarujá after stealing a cable reel, a television, and a computer.
02/02/2026 – On Monday (2), a 31-year-old man was captured at sea after assaulting his 15-year-old girlfriend with an umbrella and attempting to flee police in the Ponta da Praia neighborhood. After being caught with 14 portions of marijuana, the suspect jumped off the seawall and was eventually apprehended by officers in the water. Despite resisting arrest and suffering a wrist fracture during the jump, he was treated at a local hospital and charged with drug possession and resisting arrest.
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04/02/2026 – On Wednesday (4), the Federal Revenue Service seized 240 kg of cocaine at the Port of Santos, hidden within a 20-ton shipment of soybean oil destined for Portugal. Customs teams intercepted the container, which was scheduled to stop in Morocco, after drug-sniffing dogs signaled the presence of narcotics during a routine inspection. The Federal Police have opened an investigation into the shipment, which follows a significant year for the port in 2025, during which over 7,000 kg of cocaine were seized.
06/02/2026 – On Friday (6), a 19-year-old woman was indicted for defrauding a 77-year-old man of R$ 150,000 in Santos by promising “spiritual cures”. Operating under a pseudonym, she used psychological pressure to secure payments she claimed would be refunded after rituals. Police raided her office, seizing ritual animals and equipment while tracing the money to third-party accounts. The suspect, whose family has a history of similar scams, now faces charges of qualified fraud against the elderly.
06/02/2026 – On Friday (6), a group of five suspects violently robbed two men at the exit of the boat crossing in Praça Iguatemi Martins, in the Vila Nova neighborhood. Security footage captured the criminals using “chokeholds” to immobilize the victims before stealing their belongings and fleeing. Although one man was detained for questioning, he was later released, and police are currently using surveillance video to identify the gang members.
07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), Ana Paula Ferreira Campos, 44, was found dead at the Vila Régia motel, located on Rua da Constituição in the Vila Mathias neighborhood. Family members report that she was kidnapped and tortured for several hours by her ex-partner, who committed suicide at the scene. The victim, a domestic worker and mother of four, had been missing since the previous day after receiving threats regarding her new relationship.
12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), a lookout for drug traffickers was arrested on Rua Carlos Alberto Curado in Morro José Menino, after breaking into a house to escape a Military Police patrol. During a saturation operation, the suspect fled on foot but was captured with a radio communicator and a cellphone after the homeowner permitted a search. The individual confessed to his role in the criminal organization.
20/02/2026 – On Friday (20), a 56-year-old motorcyclist was victimized in a traffic dispute on Avenida Nossa Senhora de Fátima, in the Saboó neighborhood, when a 30-year-old pregnant driver intentionally struck him with her car. The victim suffered four cardiac arrests and remains in a medically induced coma at Santa Casa de Santos following the assault. After attempting to flee the scene, the woman was arrested and charged with attempted qualified homicide. The driver claimed the act was an accident following a verbal provocation, though witnesses report she pursued the victim after a heated argument.
20/02/2026 – On Friday (20), a man was arrested in the Jabaquara neighborhood for his involvement in a string of robberies targeting motorcyclists and local businesses. Military Police identified the suspect, who had an outstanding arrest warrant, while investigating a recent commercial theft on Avenida Doutor Cláudio Luiz da Costa. Though no illegal items were found during the search, his criminal record linked him to multiple offenses across Santos and São Vicente.
23/02/2026 – On Monday (23), the Federal Revenue Service intercepted 461 kg of cocaine hidden within a 51-ton shipment of paper at the Port of Santos. The drugs were discovered by drug-sniffing dogs inside A4 paper packages across two containers destined for the United Kingdom via Belgium. This operation marks the second major seizure of the year at the port, bringing the total amount of cocaine confiscated in 2026 to 701 kg.
25/02/2026 – On Thursday (25), Civil Police arrested a 41-year-old man suspected of firing a weapon into the air during a Carnival street party on February 19. Following a police chase, the suspect destroyed his mobile phone and resisted arrest. A 24-year-old woman was also detained, and authorities are now investigating the event’s performer for inciting crime, as viral videos showed multiple armed individuals firing rounds in public.
TRENDS & ADVICE
- Be cautious when in the vicinity of Embaré, Ponta da Praia, Campo Grande, Rádio Clube, Downtown, and Estuário.
- Never visit neighborhoods on the hills, such as Morro de São Bento, Jabaquara, Saboo, and others, since they are gang-controlled zones where shootouts occur frequently.
- Avoid passing near the VLT tunnel, in José Menino, as many drug users and homeless people stay there, especially next to the walls of the Clube dos Ingleses.
- The waterfront has many incidents of thefts and robberies (snatch and run), never display wealth, and avoid walking there during the night.
- During the Summer, risks increase, due to the bigger number of beachgoers.
- Residences in the neighborhoods of Pompeia, Gonzaga, Boqueirão, Embaré, Aparecida, Estuário, and Ponta da Praia are frequently targeted by thieves who look for bikes and items in the common areas.
- Make sure your building is well protected, with a 24/7 doorperson.
- Be cautious at all times, including in areas perceived as safe.
- Always carry a small amount of money (R$50) to hand over to muggers if attacked.
- In case of robbery: cooperate, do not try to run after the assailant, as they might be armed or resort to violence.
- In case of kidnapping:
- Cooperate in order to mitigate the risk of violence, and do not lie or provide false information to your kidnappers.
- Bear in mind that the vast majority of kidnappings are financially motivated, and nowadays they tend to be quick and focused on forcing the victims to transfer money using their cell phones.
- Attention to scams that may reach you through a WhatsApp message, e-mail, SMS, or a call.
