TRIPwire, 1 September 2021 

On 31 August 2021, the Military Police Special Tactical Actions Group (Gate) recovered 98 IEDs in the aftermath of the 30 August armed bank robbery in the city center of Aracatuba, where criminals planted numerous IEDs, including some victim-operated IEDs (VOIEDs), throughout the city to deter authorities from following them. The 98 devices recovered included 32 devices found on a public road, 29 devices found in a truck parked in front of one of the bank branches, 18 found in one of the banks, and 19 found inside vehicles in the municipality of Bilac, in addition to 70 emulsion explosive charges found in a truck. According to the Public Security Secretariat, the Gate teams detonated approximately 100 kg [~220 lb] of remaining explosives in a landfill in the Água Branca neighborhood. According to authorities, four suspects have been arrested so far, including one who was arrested 450 km away in Campinas, northwestern São Paulo, and at least 20 people participated in the robbery. The investigation is ongoing.