Airport arrest for drugs in Brazil explained for families

Описание: When a family member is arrested at a Brazilian airport for drug-related charges, the first hours are often the most confusing — and the most consequential. Brazil treats drug trafficking at international points of entry with particular severity, and the legal process that follows an airport arrest moves faster than most families expect, especially when the detained person is a foreign national unfamiliar with the Brazilian criminal system.

Brazilian law draws a critical distinction between drug trafficking and personal possession, and that distinction is made by the judge, not by the quantity seized alone. Factors like the traveler’s profile, the way the substance was packed, and the circumstances of the arrest all influence how prosecutors frame the charge. Families should understand that this is not a minor procedural matter — trafficking charges in Brazil carry substantial prison sentences and are not eligible for the same alternatives available in possession cases.

Foreign nationals have the right to consular notification, but this does not replace the need for qualified legal representation in Brazil. The Brazilian criminal procedure has its own timeline for hearings, detention reviews, and bail decisions, and missing any of these windows can significantly affect the outcome. Acting quickly with accurate legal guidance is not optional in these situations.
One of the most common mistakes families make is relying on general information found online or assuming that legal standards from their home country apply here. They do not. Brazil has its own constitutional protections and procedural rules that work very differently from common law systems, and navigating them without local legal support creates serious risk.

If you found this video useful, subscribe to the channel and share it with anyone who might need this information. Visit the website shown on screen to learn more, and feel free to reach out directly if you have questions about a specific situation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

ALVES JACOB LAW FIRM
Alessandro Jacob - Brazilian Bar Association/RJ 128.041-International Bar Association -1008212 - Portugal Bar Association 68518L Union Internationale des Avocats - MI021876-Av. Presidente Wilson n°231/Salão 902 - Parte -CEP - 20030 - 021 - Centro - Rio de Janeiro - RJ Phone: (55)(21) 3942-1026 - Travessa Dona Paula, 13 - Higienópolis - CEP -01239-050 - São Paulo - SP Phone (55)(11)3280-2197 R. Hermano Neves 18, piso 3, escritório 7, 1600-477 - Lisboa - Portugal - Phone: +351-21-750-2119 Whatsapp: (55)(21)98370-8551 Phone United States (305) 851-7982 - Phone United Kingdom (020) 8144-4939 www.linkedin.com/in/alessandro-jacob-b53312b email: [email protected] https://www.alvesjacob.com