A bus bearing São Paulo FC's branding was seized by Bolivian police after officers discovered more than 86 kilograms of marijuana hidden inside, in a bizarre incident that unfolded just before the Brazilian club's Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 first leg against Bolívar.
Police stopped the vehicle overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday at Villa Tunari in Bolivia's Cochabamba department, a region known for coca cultivation. Inside, they found 65 rectangular packages containing a green substance concealed in shopping bags. Subsequent testing confirmed it was marijuana, with the total weight recorded at 86.55 kilograms.
Crucially, São Paulo's squad never boarded the bus in question. The vehicle, operated by transport company Buses Cosmos, had originally been assigned to carry the delegation during their stay in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, but the club was given a different coach before the seizure took place. Buses Cosmos said responsibility for the incident rested with the Bolivian drivers, not the club.
Three people connected to the vehicle were arrested and taken in for questioning, with a custody hearing expected to determine whether they remain in detention. Bolivia's National Police and Public Prosecutor's Office have opened an investigation into the drugs' origin and intended destination. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, which first reported the story, São Paulo's delegation was unaware of the incident at the time and continued to their hotel without disruption using the replacement bus.