Source: UAI - ECONOMY - 26/08/2010

The National Group to Combat Criminal Organizations (GNCOC), linked to the National Council of Attorneys General of the Public Prosecutor of the States and the Union (CNPG), launched this Thursday the national operation aimed at curbing tax fraud practiced in the branch of acquisition and distribution of medicines.

The operation, carried out in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco and Goiás, resulted in the fulfillment of 11 search and seizure warrants at the headquarters, distributor and other branches of the company involved in the scheme. It is estimated that the frauds committed by members of the gang caused damage to the public coffers in figures above R $ 100 million.

The operation was planned during discussions held at the last GNCOC meeting held in Florianópolis, in March. Under the supervision of the group's national president, attorney general of Santa Catarina, Gercino Gerson Gomes Neto, several meetings and operational activities were carried out throughout the year with a view to preparing the operation that was launched today.

Carried out in partnership between the Public Ministries and the Tax Intelligence Centers of the states involved, the operation was attended by 19 prosecutors, 78 tax auditors, 53 members of the Civil and Military Police, as well as several vehicles and technical devices.

According to the investigation, the company involved would be defrauding the tax authorities when selling medicines through the issuance of unaccounted "partial notes", which, consequently, resulted in the underpayment of taxes due. The goods were transported by autonomous transporters who, under the guidance of the distributor and in order to avoid inspection at the fiscal posts, sought alternative and local routes, where inspection normally does not exist. The invoices issued just to cover the transport were returned to the company as soon as the product was delivered to the recipient, and therefore were not registered by the purchasing pharmacies.

After the completion of searches and seizures, the efforts of prosecutors and tax auditors will be concentrated on the analysis of the seized material, allowing for a real delimitation of the scope of the gang's activities and the number of suppressed taxes, which will direct new actions aimed at confirming the suspicion that similar frauds are being practiced by other taxpayers from different states.

GNCOC - The National Group to Combat Criminal Organizations (GNCOC), linked to the National Council of Attorneys General of the Public Prosecutor of the States and the Union, was created in 2002 after the tragic murder of a prosecutor in the state of Minas Gerais, who investigating gang that adulterated fuels.

Since then, periodic meetings have been held by the Group, which currently operates in the areas of combating drug trafficking, adulteration of fuels, money laundering, tax evasion, crimes committed in the Prison System and other offenses committed by criminal organizations across the country.