A 20-year-old Brazilian woman died unexpectedly while traveling alone on a long-distance bus from Foz do Iguaçu to São Paulo. The incident took place on Tuesday, July 29, during a scheduled stop in the city of Guarapuava in the central region of Paraná. Witnesses reported that she began complaining of difficulty breathing shortly after the bus paused at a roadside restaurant.
Within minutes, she collapsed in what appeared to be a medical emergency. Emergency services were called immediately, and paramedics from the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) arrived to perform resuscitation. Despite working on her for 45 minutes, they were unable to revive her. According to emergency workers, she initially appeared conscious but quickly deteriorated. She exhibited signs of respiratory distress, followed by a seizure and cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
26 iPhones Glued to Her Body Discovered by Paramedics
While treating the woman, emergency personnel discovered several packages concealed beneath her clothing. Upon closer inspection, it was found that she had 26 iPhones glued to her body using adhesive. The phones were strapped or glued directly to her torso and limbs under her clothes. Some were reportedly refurbished models, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.
There was no identification of illicit substances found on her person, and no signs of trauma were reported externally. However, bottles of alcohol were found in her luggage, which may be relevant to the ongoing investigation into her cause of death. Authorities have confirmed that toxicology and forensic testing are underway to determine if there were any substances in her system or if the smartphones themselves played a role in triggering a medical event.
Authorities Suspect Smuggling Operation
The Paraná Civil Police and Scientific Police have launched an investigation into the woman’s death and the suspected smuggling activity. Her body was sent to the Forensic Medical Institute for detailed examination. While the 26 phones recovered from her person were handed over to the Federal Revenue Service.
In an official statement, authorities stated that the woman was traveling alone from Foz do Iguaçu to São Paulo and that the electronic devices were seized as part of a suspected trafficking operation. There has been no indication of who may have organized the transport of the phones or whether the woman was coerced or voluntarily participating in the activity. However, the method of transport and the choice of route point strongly toward a deliberate attempt to bypass customs and sell the items illegally.
Foz do Iguaçu Known for Cross-Border Phone Smuggling
Foz do Iguaçu, the woman’s departure point, is located near Brazil’s border with Paraguay and is considered one of the country’s most active smuggling corridors. Paraguay has long been a source of low-cost electronics due to significantly lower taxes, and many individuals attempt to transport phones and other high-demand products across the border into Brazil to sell them at inflated prices.
These products are often resold without official registration, warranty, or proper taxes being paid. Seizures of black market smartphones rose nearly 25 percent between January and May of this year. Officials suspect that smugglers now frequently use individuals acting as “mules” to carry small quantities across borders in hopes of avoiding large-scale detection. In one recent case, authorities intercepted 196 iPhones hidden in a modified truck compartment while crossing the Friendship Bridge that connects Paraguay and Brazil.
Transporting Phones on the Body May Pose Health Risks
Deputy delegate Claudio Marques of Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service noted that many smuggling operations rely on dispersing shipments among multiple couriers to avoid drawing attention. This method increases the number of individual transporters while minimizing financial loss if someone is caught. It is not uncommon for people in financial difficulty to be recruited or manipulated into participating. Sometimes without fully understanding the legal or health risks involved.
In cases where phones are strapped directly to the body, extended periods of pressure, heat retention, or circulatory restriction may occur. Especially during long journeys with limited movement or ventilation. Whether the physical strain of carrying so many iPhones glued to her body contributed to the woman’s sudden collapse remains under investigation.
Cause of Death Remains Under Investigation
As of now, officials have not confirmed the precise cause of death. Although the woman experienced seizure symptoms and cardiac arrest, medical examiners have yet to establish a definitive link between the symptoms and the objects attached to her body. Toxicology and forensic reports are expected to provide more clarity in the coming weeks.
Until those results are released, investigators cannot say whether the adhesive materials, potential battery exposure, dehydration, or some other factor triggered the fatal episode. Authorities are also exploring whether she had any pre-existing medical conditions that could have made her more vulnerable to stress or heat-related complications.
Investigators Seek to Identify Who Was Behind the Transport
The case has drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally due to the unusual circumstances and the number of phones found on the victim. Law enforcement officials continue to examine the facts. More specifically, the woman’s travel history, phone contacts, and any evidence from her luggage that may identify others involved in the suspected smuggling operation. If a network is uncovered, further arrests could follow.
Meanwhile, the incident has placed renewed focus on the ongoing issue of smartphone smuggling across Brazil’s borders. The combination of high electronics prices domestically and porous border controls has created conditions where illegal importation remains a persistent and profitable problem. This case may lead to further investigation of the broader network behind such operations.
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