Author: Jailma Simone

Source: O Norte - João Pessoa / PB - 01/12/2009

A truck loaded with smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay was seized by the Federal Highway Police (PRF), at the Bayeux post (km 32 of the BR-230 highway), 9km from João Pessoa, yesterday morning. The cargo contained 4.950 packages of the product transported irregularly. The illegal goods were hidden under green boxes. The flagrant happened during a routine inspection. The Volkswagen truck, plate KKE-1608 from Cabo de Santo Agostinho (PE) had one of the plates partially covered (traffic violation). When agents of the Federal Highway Police asked for vehicle documentation, both the driver and the passenger were nervous. Reason for which the suspicion of federal agents was raised that something could be wrong.

Erivaldo Elias de Souza, 27, driver; and José Nunes da Silva, 22, aide, both residing in the city of Catingueira, in the interior of Paraíba, did not inform the origin of the smuggled goods. According to the inspector of the PRF, Genésio Vieira, the first said that he was going to the city of Sapé to take a load. His assistant informed that they would be going to the Sertão “beating” (expression used by truck drivers when there is no right cargo available).

The merchandise and those accused of the crime of contraband were sent to the Federal Police headquarters in João Pessoa, where investigations and the punishment of those involved will be carried out.

In September, more than 10 cigarette bags were seized and were being sold without registration in the Central Market areas, in the Bairro dos Estados and at the Integration Terminal in João Pessoa. The occurrences were the result of an action by the Civil Police together with the State and Municipal Health Surveillance Agencies, with the initiative of the State Public Ministry. For an entire day, the agencies inspected file holders, formal and informal businesses in an attempt to locate counterfeit products. During the operation, counterfeit products sold to the consumer were found without the authorization of the agencies responsible for the concession.

According to the State Health Surveillance Agency (Agevisa), about 30% of the cigarettes consumed in the country are illegal. Due to counterfeiting, the cost is much lower, especially affecting smokers with less purchasing power and without information that the product may be more harmful than those sold in a manner authorized by the Ministry of Health. of taxes, the IRS also has losses for not collecting. In addition, the packaging does not contain the warnings and legal information provided by the Ministry of Health, warning of the harm caused by smoking to health and the types of diseases that affect tobacco users. Some even have the label in another language. Furthermore, it disrespects the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA), because it does not include a ban on sales to minors under 18 years of age.