Uruguayan police in Artigas, which borders Brazil, dismantled a criminal group smuggling rifles and ammunition across international lines.
Their investigation, called Operation Capella, led police to seize 13 rifles, over 10,000 cartridges, and more than 400,000 ammunition parts.
Authorities also captured a truck fitted with hidden compartments, large sums of cash in different currencies, and electronic devices with possible evidence of other deals.
Officials arrested three Brazilian nationals involved in the operation. One received four years in prison for leading the arms smuggling scheme, while the other two got 18 and 8 months, depending on their roles, as confirmed by court doblockents and police reports.
This border region is a strategic crossing between Uruguay and Brazil and is known for legal and illegal trade. This case shows just how organized arms traffickers have become, using advanced smuggling techniques and financial resources.
Police say shutting down this group likely prevented hundreds of thousands of rounds from reaching criminal networks. For business and society, these trafficked weapons threaten local safety, economic activity, and stability.
The operation underlines how secure borders remain essential to stopping organized crime and protecting communities on both sides.
Every illegal weapon off the streets reduces risk for everyone involved in cross-border life and trade. All these facts come directly from official police and court sources in Uruguay.
