Source: Zero Hora - Porto Alegre / RS - 08/10/2010

Four groups that smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay to Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguayan municipalities had their actions affected yesterday by Operation Seven of Diamonds of the Federal Police of Pelotas. Three suspects were arrested and 85 cigarettes seized. Eleven properties and 28 vehicles of group leaders were blocked by court order.

The gangs had their cells functioning in Pelotas, in the south of the state, separately, although they knew about each other's actions and carried out the same type of crime. According to the delegate of the Federal Police, Alexandre Pauli, the groups smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay and brought them directly to the State through the Brazilian border through Foz do Iguaçu or through the border with Argentina.

In addition to selling in the Metropolitan Region and the south of the state, criminals exported cigarettes to Uruguay through the municipalities of Chuí and Jaguarão.

The investigation, which began in March, has arrested 21 people over the past six months, in addition to the seizure of 315 packs and 18 vehicles. In addition to serving 15 search and seizure warrants in Pelotas, seven were carried out in Sentinela do Sul, Tapes and Guaíba, where gang suppliers worked.