A transport bus contracted to carry the São Paulo delegation in Bolivia was intercepted and seized by police in the Cochabamba region on Tuesday, Feb. 11, after authorities discovered 86.5 kilograms of marijuana hidden inside the vehicle, according to local reporting confirmed by CNN Brasil. Law enforcement officials recovered several bags containing the illicit substance from the bus during the operation in the Locotal area. Despite the seizure, the transportation provider, Flota Cosmos, dispatched a replacement vehicle on schedule, and club officials confirmed that the team’s players and coaching staff were never informed of the incident or affected by the disruption.
Timeline of the Seizure in Cochabamba
The interception occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2026, when local law enforcement halted the vehicle assigned to the Brazilian club. According to reports from the Bolivian outlet Red Uno, officers searched the interior and recovered multiple bags holding a total of 86.5 kilograms of marijuana. The transport service was managed by the Flota Cosmos syndicate line, which had been contracted to handle local transit logistics for São Paulo’s arrival in the country ahead of continental competition.
Club Response and Official Statements from Flota Cosmos
Representatives for São Paulo released a definitive statement to CNN Brasil emphasizing that the organization bears no relation to the incident and that team operations proceeded smoothly without any compromise to the delegation. Flota Cosmos issued an official public clarification addressing the arrest of their drivers and absolving the football club of any wrongdoing.
“Diante do ocorrido no dia 9 de agosto de 2026, na região de Locotal, esclarecemos que toda a responsabilidade corresponde aos motoristas,” the company stated in its official release, noting the specific date of the initial transit arrangement. “A Linha Sindical Flota Cosmos e a equipe do São Paulo FC NÃO têm nenhuma responsabilidade pelo ocorrido. A equipe do São Paulo FC não utilizou aquele ônibus, tendo sido designado outro veículo para o time. O caso já foi esclarecido pela polícia, e os responsáveis estão detidos e à disposição da Justiça boliviana.”
Impact on the Copa Sudamericana Schedule
The logistics disruption had zero impact on São Paulo’s competitive schedule. The squad arrived at their destination via an alternate vehicle provided by Flota Cosmos and prepared for their opening match in the knockout stages of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana. São Paulo faced Bolívar on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 21:30 Brasília time (UTC-3) at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia. Team officials confirmed that neither the players nor the technical staff faced any delays or security risks stemming from the police operation.
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