Police intercept 86.5kg of MARIJUANA on Brazilian giants’ team bus as three people arrested

SportFootball POLICE in Bolivia have seized more than 86kg of marijuana from a bus carrying the colours of Brazilian football giants Sao Paulo. Three people have been arrested after narcotics officers discovered dozens of packages containing the illegal substance during a search in the city of Villa Tunari, in the Cochabamba department according to a report on L’Equipe. The Police with the seized 86.5 kg of marijuana inside Credit: RedUnoTV The bus, which was decorated with Sao Paulo’s colours and club logos, was stopped by authorities on Tuesday night as the Brazilian side prepared to face Bolívar in the Copa Sudamericana. Officers found 65 rectangular packages hidden inside shopping bags during the inspection. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Tests later confirmed the packages contained marijuana with local reports stating the total weight was around 86.5kg. However, Sao Paulo have moved quickly to distance themselves from the incident, insisting the vehicle was not being used by their squad. Transport company Cosmos, which operated the bus, also denied any connection between the vehicle and the Brazilian club’s team. A company said in a statement read: “The Sao Paulo team did not use this bus- another one was assigned to them. “We wish to clarify that the Bolivian drivers bear full responsibility.” The bus was reportedly travelling through Villa Tunari, an area in central Bolivia known as a major coca-producing region, when it was intercepted. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Top football travel deals The three arrested individuals are now facing investigation by Bolivia’s narcotics authorities. Sao Paulo were in Bolivia for the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 tie against Bolívar, South America’s equivalent of the Europa League. The club has not been linked to any wrongdoing and no players or staff members were involved in the incident. Comment now