Drug seizures (K) rise by almost 350% in São Paulo.
According to the state's Forensic Science Police, five years ago, 95% of the seizures received by the institution were marijuana and cocaine. And synthetic drugs, which accounted for 5%, now represent 15%.
247 - Seizures of so-called 'K drugs' have increased by almost 350% in the last three years in the state of São Paulo. According to the state's Technical-Scientific Police, five years ago, 95% of the seizures received by the institution were marijuana and cocaine. Now, synthetic drugs, which accounted for 5%, represent 15%. These are hand-rolled cigarettes, but inside them is a substance known by the letter "K," followed by the numbers 2, 4, 9, or 12, or by the English word "spice." The names are different, but it's the same substance.
In an interview published in National JournalAlexandre Soares, director of the Narcotics Examination Unit at the Institute of Criminalistics, stated that, "five or ten years ago, we could say that 95% of our seizures were marijuana and cocaine" in the state of São Paulo. "Today, that percentage of marijuana and cocaine has decreased, and those 5% that were synthetic drugs have increased to 15% of seizures," he said.
K drugs are synthetic. It's possible to hide up to 1,2 doses of the substance in a single sheet of paper. Prosecutors from the Public Ministry (MP-SP) are investigating the illegal scheme.