Source: Jornal de Beltrão - Francisco Beltrão / PR - 18/08/2010

Federal policemen and agents of the National Force remain on the Brazilian border with Argentina until December.

The Sentinel Operation that is being developed in the border strip of Dionísio Cerqueira (SC) and Barracão (PR) by the Federal Police, National Security Force, Federal Revenue and Federal Highway Police, is contributing to significantly reduce the amount of illicit products that come from abroad to the Southwest region. The focus is on combating the entry of goods from Argentina and Paraguay.
Launched in March with the aim of repressing transnational crimes - such as international trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives, smuggling, illegal export of vehicles, medicines, drugs, drinks and illegal immigration of foreigners - Operation Sentinel should last until December this year.
At the operational base of Dionísio Cerqueira, installed on July 29, 36 officers from the National Force, from several Brazilian states, and 20 federal police officers, from the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, are working and the city of Brasilia.

Highway inspection
The delegate of the Federal Police, regional coordinator of Operation Sentinela, José Eloi Werner Júnior, points out that the activities are taking place ostensibly, with barriers, mobile inspection on highways and back roads. He explains that the area of ​​circumscription is the West of Santa Catarina and some points of the Southwest of Paraná. The work is concentrated on road junctions in Chapecó, Campo Erê and Dionísio Cerqueira. "But if we have complaints, we can go to the Santo Antônio do Sudoeste region", points out the federal delegate.
The operation reaches all states of the Brazilian border line: Amapá, Pará, Roraima, Amazonas, Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
According to him, the officers are focused on inhibiting the entry of illegal items in the country, but realizing illegal acts such as the evasion of products and vehicles, the teams will be prepared to act. “We have information about the high number of motorcycles being stolen in the municipalities of the Southwest, but we still don't know if they are coming to the border”, observes dr. Werner.
He explains that criminals are increasingly audacious. They use impressive operational schemes to bypass enforcement. The delegate comments, for example, on the performance of cigarette smugglers who ride trains, with beater cars and carry out radio communication. "In some situations, they even try to break through the barriers and then the police are forced to act."

Operation balance
The balance of apprehensions carried out in the last quarter by federal police and agents of the National Force is impressive due to the large amount of illegal goods. In three months, 20.845 cigarette packs, 7.300 units of beverages (wine, whiskey, beer and energy drinks), 1.000 units of computers (notebooks, monitors, printers), 13 bags of clothing and shoes, 40 kilograms of marijuana were removed from circulation , 16 kilos of cocaine, 5 firearms, 400 simulations of firearms, ammunition, 16 cigarette cigarette vehicles and 15 radio amateurs.
Federal Police agent Lucimara Capistrano reports that more than 1.600 drug packs were seized, mainly of drugs for sexual impotence (Viagra and Pramil), abortives, anabolic drugs, blood pressure and sibutramine - banned by the Ministry of Health and widely consumed for weight loss. "These are blatant counterfeits, including packaging, that can cause damage to the health of those who are consuming these products," he says.
The police officer recalls that Operation Sentinel is also being launched in Foz do Iguaçu and, even so, many products pass through the barriers and end up being seized near Santa Catarina. This border region is considered by the authorities as the main smuggling corridor that supplies the entire South of the country. “Due to the characteristics of the region, there is an indiscriminate entry of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.”

Recommendations
Many citizens of the Southwest region often travel to Argentina to buy drinks, toiletries and food products. When faced with an inspection, the Federal Police agent says that people should not be scared. “Even if there are traffic issues with the vehicle's documentation or with the license. We are here to guide and we will use common sense. Some drivers, when they see the blitz, get scared and run away, many because they are actually committing illegality, others just because of fear and misinformation ”, he adds. In any situation of blockage or escape there will be chase. The operation has four teams, each with four vehicles and a certain number of police officers.
As for products for personal consumption, the IRS is establishing new quantities due to a recent change in legislation, for now there is a tolerance of up to twelve bottles of wine, a box of energy drink, three or four liters of whiskey and a dozen bottles of beer per person. Everything that characterizes commerce, that is, buying for resale, will be retained.