Bolivian police seized 86.5 kilograms of marijuana from a bus hired to transport Brazilian football team Sao Paulo FC ahead of their 2026 Copa Sudamericana round of 16 match against Bolívar. Three people linked to the transport company were arrested during the operation.
The intervention took place in the Cochabamba area before the vehicle reached Santa Cruz de la Sierra to collect the squad. Officers from the Rural Patrol Mobile Unit, known as UMOPAR, discovered the marijuana distributed across four hidden bags inside the bus.
Replacement vehicle and investigation
Although the vehicle carried Sao Paulo emblems, the Brazilian club never used the intercepted bus. The delegation had previously been transported from the Santa Cruz de la Sierra airport to their hotel in another bus belonging to the Buses Cosmos company.
After learning of the police operation, Buses Cosmos provided a replacement vehicle for squad logistics, ensuring the incident caused no changes to the team's schedule. The transport company stated that full responsibility belonged to the drivers involved, clearing company management and Sao Paulo of any connection to the event.
The three detainees were placed at the disposal of Bolivian authorities for investigation.
Match result in La Paz
On the pitch, Bolívar and Sao Paulo played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz. Robert Arboleda scored for the visiting Brazilian side, while Carlos Antonio Melgar equalized for the home team.
