The Colares UFO Flap

In 1977 and 1978, the island of Colares in northern Brazil experienced an intense wave of UFO activity. Residents reported being attacked by objects that shot beams of light at them, causing burns, puncture wounds, and in some cases, what appeared to be blood extraction. The Brazilian Air Force launched Operation Saucer to investigate.

The Attacks

Beginning in October 1977, residents of Colares reported nightly visits by luminous objects. The objects, which locals called “chupa-chupa” (suckers), were described as probe-like or cylindrical, emitting intense beams of light.

People struck by these beams reported burns, temporary paralysis, and puncture wounds. Some claimed to feel blood being extracted. Victims often displayed burn marks in triangular patterns and suffered from weakness and dizziness for days.

The terror was so intense that residents organized night watches, banging pots and setting off fireworks to drive the objects away.

Operation Saucer

The Brazilian Air Force took the reports seriously enough to launch Operation Saucer (Operação Prato) in September 1977. A team led by Captain Uyrangê Hollanda documented the phenomenon, interviewing witnesses, photographing objects, and compiling a detailed report.

The operation collected over 500 photographs, hours of film footage, and hundreds of witness testimonies. The investigators themselves reportedly had close encounters with the objects.

The Official Report

The Operation Saucer report, classified for decades, was eventually released and confirmed the reality of the phenomena. The report did not draw conclusions about the objects’ origin but documented that something unusual was occurring in the Colares area.

Captain Hollanda, who led the investigation, gave interviews years later describing the team’s experiences. He committed suicide in 1997, with some suggesting the UFO investigation had deeply affected him.

Physical Effects

What distinguished the Colares flap was the physical evidence. Doctors examined victims and documented burns, lesions, and symptoms consistent with radiation exposure. The patterns of injury were consistent across many victims who had no contact with each other.

Whether these injuries were caused by unknown technology, some natural phenomenon, or another explanation has never been determined.

Assessment

The Colares UFO flap is remarkable for its duration, the number of witnesses, the physical effects on victims, and the official military investigation. Something terrorized that Brazilian island for months, something that left physical marks on its victims.

The chupa-chupa remains one of the most aggressive and puzzling UFO cases on record.