The car, which was initially intended to transport Sao Paulo FC players during their stay in Santa Cruz, was seized by local police in the early hours of Wednesday. According to L'Équipe Football, the authorities made a significant discovery, with several dozen packages of marijuana found in the vehicle. The Sao Paulo FC was in Bolivia for their Copa Sudamericana match against Bolivar, the equivalent of the Europa League in South America.
The transport company Cosmos, which was responsible for the vehicle, has distanced itself from the incident. In a statement, they claimed that the Sao Paulo FC did not use the car, instead being allocated a different vehicle. They also stated that the entire responsibility for the incident lies with the Bolivian drivers. The local town of Villa Tunari is known for being an important zone of coca production, adding context to the discovery.
The police in Bolivia have arrested three individuals in connection with the operation, with the substance found in the car confirmed to be marijuana through analysis. The vehicle, which was identifiable due to its Sao Paulo FC branding, was searched at Villa Tunari in the centre of Bolivia. The discovery has sparked an investigation into the incident, with the transport company Cosmos facing scrutiny over the affair.
The Copa Sudamericana match between Sao Paulo FC and Bolivar will continue as scheduled, with the Brazilian club expected to face further questions over the incident.