Source: O Globo, 05/05/2010

In just three months, Operation Barreira Fiscal, issued by the State Government Secretariat, issued fines in the amount of R $ 50,8 million, a result more than three times greater than that obtained in the whole of 2009, R $ 16,4 millions. The objective of the operation, which inspects 14 points in all accesses to the State of Rio, is to prevent goods from entering without paying due taxes, in addition to curbing the circulation of illegal products, such as weapons and drugs.

Between February and April, the operation's inspectors inspected 762.720 vehicles. Of these, 8.326 tried to escape the barriers, but were all intercepted.

In addition to the runaways, another 79.284 vehicles underwent more rigorous inspection. In the same period, 59 people were arrested for crimes such as active corruption, possession of a weapon, contempt, possession of drugs, environmental crime, reception, smuggling and transportation of pirated goods.

Although the figures released yesterday refer exclusively to fines, the Government Secretariat estimates that, since the beginning of the operation, on February 1, there has already been a significant increase in the collection of ICMS. In that month and in March, there was an increase of around 94,7% in the oil and derivatives sector (R $ 68 million) and of 53,2% in the goods subject to the tax substitution regime (R $ 200 million), in compared to the same period last year. The goal is to increase the monthly revenue from Rio de Janeiro, now of R $ 1,5 billion, by R $ 600 million.

- The numbers show that we are on the right path in search of reducing tax evasion and crime, in addition to increasing the collection of ICMS, which will provide greater investments in the areas of education, health, public security and infrastructure - said the undersecretary of Government, Reynaldo Braga.

Operation Fiscal Barrier takes place 24 hours a day, from Sunday to Sunday.