LA PAZ, August 13, 2026: Brazilian football club São Paulo has been caught up in an unexpected controversy in Bolivia after police seized 86.5 kilograms of marijuana from a bus bearing the club’s logo ahead of a crucial Copa Sudamericana match.
The bus, operated by transport company Buses Cosmos, was reportedly stopped while travelling to pick up the São Paulo squad. Although the vehicle displayed the club’s logo, no players or officials from São Paulo were on board at the time.
Buses Cosmos quickly arranged an alternative vehicle for the team. São Paulo used the replacement bus to travel from the airport to its hotel on Monday and was taken back to the airport on Tuesday before departing for La Paz.
The club said it had not been officially informed about the incident by police or other authorities. São Paulo reportedly learned about the seizure through local media reports and said the incident did not require any changes to the team’s schedule.
Buses Cosmos has denied responsibility for the drugs, saying the incident involved the drivers concerned. The company also stressed that São Paulo’s squad had never used the seized vehicle and had travelled in another bus supplied by the company. According to the transport operator, police have investigated the case and arrested those allegedly responsible.
São Paulo takes precautions ahead of La Paz clash
Meanwhile, São Paulo has adopted a special travel strategy to minimize the effects of high altitude ahead of its Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 clash against Bolívar.
The Brazilian club is staying in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and plans to travel to La Paz only a few hours before the match. Located at around 3,650 metres above sea level, La Paz can pose significant physical challenges for visiting teams, prompting São Paulo to avoid spending a prolonged period at high altitude.
Despite the controversy surrounding the drug seizure, São Paulo has said the incident has not affected its preparations for the important knockout-stage match.
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