Americas

Americas

Four killed, 10 arrested in Brazil anti-drug operation

07 January 2014 23:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least four people were killed and 10 others arrested in an anti-narcotics operation early Tuesday in Brazil's northeastern city of Maceio, local authorities said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Some 200 civilian and military police officers, backed by two helicopters, participated in the operation called "United against drugs," armed with some 30 arrest warrants for suspects in upper Maceio, capital of Alagoas state, the authorities said.

Four suspects, including a woman, were injured in the shootout with police and died on the way to hospital, said Dario Cesar, Alagoas State's Secretary of Social Defense.

The authorities also arrested five adults aged between 18 and 32, and five teenagers, and seized weapons, drugs and money.

The operation was "a success thanks to an anonymous tip," said Cesar.

Brazil is the second largest consumer of cocaine in the world, as well as a major hub for export of the drug to Europe, according to the CIA World Factbook.