Source: Diário do Povo - Campinas / SP - 10/08/2010

From Anhanguera Agency

Military police (PMs) seized four carts and a van loaded with cigarettes brought from Paraguay, on Sunday night, in Vila San Martin, in Campinas. Four men were arrested in the action of the PMs of the Tactical Force of the 8th Battalion. According to the Military Police, 1.834 boxes of cigarettes were seized, each containing 50 packages. Each package has ten packs. The cargo was assessed at R $ 1 million. The men driving the vehicles were taken to the Regional Police Station of the Federal Police (PF) in Campinas. The seized cargo, on the other hand, was taken to the Federal Revenue deposit, in the Viracopos Airport region.

The men were fined in flagrante delicto on charges of wrongdoing (entering the country with a product that can be sold, but without the collection of fees and taxes) and are subject to sentences of 1 to 4 years in prison, and another 1 to 3 years of imprisonment. imprisonment for criminal conspiracy. They were identified as Alexsandro Roberto da Silva, Walker Francisco Doni, Elias Pereira Gusmão and Wellington Diniz Pereira.

According to the PM, the carts with cigarettes were discovered after information that a shed was being robbed. “When we arrived at the site, we came across the four carts and the men. There was also a Palio and a Uno, who served as an escort ”, explained Sergeant Custódio. According to the PM, cigarettes would be distributed today in Campinas camelódromos. For that, smugglers would use the van, which is a compatible vehicle to enter the street vendors.