During the 2026 Carnival, São Paulo’s “megablocos” accounted for 20% of cell phone crimes, with critical hotspots identified on Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral and Rua da Consolação. To mitigate risks, the Military Police deployed 5,200 daily officers and utilized drones, while the OAB-SP provided free legal support to women across all 11 official circuits. Experts recommended increased personal vigilance and the use of digital channels for reporting incidents in high-density areas.
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07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), police officers disguised as aliens arrested four suspects during Ivete Sangalo’s Carnival block at Ibirapuera, which drew 1.2 million people. Infiltrated DHPP agents caught one man for stealing cell phones and three others for selling adulterated beverages. The undercover operation used the costumes to blend into the crowd, supported by drones and helicopters for aerial surveillance.
07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), 27-year-old Juliana Bassetto died following a swimming lesson at the C4 Gym in the Parque São Lucas neighborhood, suffering from suspected chemical poisoning. Her husband and a teenager remain hospitalized in serious condition after inhaling toxic gases. Police are investigating the facility’s management, which was shut down by sanitary authorities for operating without a license and maintaining precarious safety conditions. Police informed that the gym used to add to the water in a single day the amount of chlorine that is normally added throughout a week period.
07/02/2026 – On Saturday (7), a doctor and his lawyer boyfriend were stabbed by three men shortly after exiting the Higienópolis-Mackenzie Metro station in Central São Paulo. The attackers fled without stealing anything, leading the couple and investigators to suspect a homophobic hate crime. The doctor suffered a perforated lung and a severed jugular, requiring emergency surgery, while his partner sustained a head wound.
08/02/2026 – On Sunday (8), a massive crowd for Carnival bloco caused chaos and overcrowding on Rua da Consolação in central São Paulo. The surge led foliões to break into a Fire Department station, destroy bus stops, and topple security barriers, causing several injuries and merchandise loss for vendors. Undercover police made multiple arrests for cellphone theft, while the city administration was forced to remove fences to create escape routes for the record-breaking audience.
08/02/2026 – On Sunday (8), police officers from the DHPP department disguised as Ghostbusters arrested a man and two women for stealing cell phones during a Carnival bloco on Rua da Consolação, Central São Paulo. The undercover agents caught one woman with 12 phones in her bag and the man with four devices. This operation was part of a broader strategy that led to eight arrests that day, following a similar tactic the previous day where officers dressed as aliens made arrests at Ibirapuera.
08/02/2026 – On Sunday (8), police used batons to disperse revelers who jumped the fence of a public school on Rua da Consolação during São Paulo’s pre-Carnival. Video footage shows officers striking individuals even after they had exited the school grounds and reached the sidewalk. The security secretariat defended the intervention due to unauthorized entry into a closed area.
09/02/2026 – On Monday (9), the Civil Police arrested three members of the “Minotauro Gang,” a group specialized in violent robberies of luxury mansions in Morumbi, South Zone. During the raids in Paraisópolis, officers seized firearms and stolen vehicles with cloned plates used to target elderly victims and children. The gang had been under investigation since 2024 for their high-profile attacks in upscale neighborhoods.
09/02/2026 – On Monday (9), a 60-year-old Latam pilot, Sérgio Antônio Lopes, was arrested inside an aircraft cockpit at Congonhas Airport as he prepared for a flight to Rio de Janeiro. Part of “Operation Fasten Your Seatbelts,” the pilot is accused of running a child sexual abuse network for eight years, using forged documents to take minors to motels. A 55-year-old woman was also arrested for allegedly pimping her own granddaughters to the pilot. Police carried out eight search warrants in São Paulo and Guararema, while Latam stated it is cooperating with the investigation.
10/02/2026 – On Tuesday (10), the São Paulo Civil Police submitted a technical report to the Public Prosecutor’s Office detailing severe moderation failures on digital platforms like Discord. The document, produced by the Digital Observation Nucleus (NOAD), highlighted that these gaps allowed crimes against minors—such as sexual violence and self-harm—to be broadcast live without immediate intervention. While NOAD has successfully rescued nearly 360 children through 24-hour monitoring and undercover operations, officials emphasized that platforms must be held more accountable for their delayed response in deleting illegal servers and identifying criminals.
11/02/2026 – On Wednesday (11), a man was arrested in a BYD dealer in the Socorro neighborhood, South Zone, for operating a counterfeit police vehicle on Avenida das Nações Unidas. Driving a BYD Song Plus equipped with emergency lights, the suspect was caught traveling against traffic in a bus lane. When confronted, he presented a badge and claimed to be a Civil Police investigator assigned to the Government Palace; however, a background check confirmed he was not an officer.
12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), São Paulo authorities removed two investigators from office for allegedly accepting R$ 1.5 million in bribes to stop an international drug trafficking probe. Evidence from seized phones indicates the pair used restricted systems to leak data and negotiated luxury items with criminal organizations. The court also froze their business activities and banned their use of messaging apps during the ongoing corruption and influence peddling investigation.
12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), São Paulo authorities launched a joint operation against a Chinese criminal organization linked to the PCC for allegedly laundering R$ 1.1 billion through electronics sales. The group used shell companies and criminal “front men” to process payments and hide high-value assets over a seven-month period. Police executed three arrest warrants and 20 search warrants across São Paulo and Santa Catarina to dismantle the multi-state scheme.
12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), São Paulo police arrested union leader Antônio “Preguinho” Agripino for leading a protest that paralyzed the Parque Dom Pedro II Terminal, in Central São Paulo. The demonstration, linked to a bitter dispute over the SindMotoristas election, involved deflating bus tires and stealing vehicle keys, affecting 52 transit lines. Preguinho now faces charges of theft, criminal association, and endangering public transport. Both city officials and the union leadership officially condemned the acts as vandalism intended to disrupt the upcoming March vote.
12/02/2026 – On Thursday (12), a video captured Military Police officers surrounding and assaulting an unarmed water vendor near the Brás station in East São Paulo. Witnesses reported that the vendor, who works informally, was shoved and struck with a nightstick after attempting to retrieve his sandals following a brief chase to avoid having his goods seized. The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat stated that the incident is under investigation to identify the officers involved and hold them accountable for any misconduct.
