Overview

• The São Paulo government now counts 22 occurrences linked to suspected methanol exposure, with 15 under investigation, one death confirmed and four awaiting IML confirmation.
• Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski directed the Federal Police to open an inquiry to track provenance and distribution, citing signs the network could extend beyond the state.
• Health authorities conducted joint inspections in the capital’s Jardins, Mooca and Cidade Dutra areas, seizing 117 unlabeled bottles for analysis by the Instituto de Criminalística.
• State officials say broader operations have yielded 50,000 seized bottles and 15 million fraudulent seals, with five police inquests opened and two suspects arrested.
• While the crime‑organization link remains a hypothesis under investigation, the state’s public security department says there is no confirmation of faction involvement, and consumers are urged to buy sealed, traceable products and seek urgent care for visual changes, severe headache, nausea or confusion after drinking.