Facial Recognition System Spots Wanted Drug Trafficker at Subway Station in Bahia

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A 24-year-old man wanted for engaging in drug trafficking was arrested on Friday night, August 16th, after being spotted by the Bahia Public Security Secretariat’s (SSP-BA) facial recognition system at a subway station in Salvador.

The equipment detected Lucas dos Santos as he entered the terminal. According to the SSP, state police officers were deployed and took the suspect to the Civil Police Center, where in-person identification was conducted.

After ID confirmation, the civil police officers complied with the arrest warrant issued by the State Drug Court. The suspect was arrested and is now at the disposal of the courts.

The facial recognition system has successfully identified and arrested 49 suspects in Bahia, according to the SSP.

In the first half of the year alone, 39 fugitive felons or criminals who were not complying with house arrest regulations were arrested in Salvador and Feira de Santana, located approximately 100 kilometers from the capital.

The criminals were picked up by cameras scattered around the subway and bus stations, Salvador International Airport, in addition to those used in major events, such as the Carnaval, Micareta de Feira de Santana, and Americas Cup.