Source: Diário do Noroeste - PR - Paranavaí / PR - HOME - 29/06/2010

In the truck were 900 boxes of cigarettes, CDs, tires and other objects

Operation carried out yesterday by policemen from the 8th Battalion of the Military Police (8th BPM) of Paranavaí on the stretch of highway between Paraíso do Norte and Rondon resulted in the seizure of almost half a million packs of smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay. Four hundred and fifty thousand packs of cigarettes were seized at around 13 pm, while approaching a Scânia R113 truck, in 1993. The truck driver, 47, reported that he picked up the cargo in Umuarama and should take it to Osasco - SP.

In addition to the 900 cigarette cases, several cases of CDs, tires and other objects were found. The PM reported that a white pickup truck was seized during the approach, which served as a scout. The driver managed to escape. The commander of the 8th BPM, Lt. Col. Antonio Lima, said the driver was identified as a police officer and is due to report tomorrow.

The police reported that the amount of R $ 2.274,00 in cash and a cell phone were found with the truck driver. The truck, van and driver were sent to the Federal Police in Maringá, where the cargo will be fully opened, counted and evaluated.

The second seizure of the day took place at about 15 pm in another blocking operation in the city of São Carlos do Ivaí, the military police approached two vehicles: a Parati model, which when inspected was carrying a load of 16.500 packs of cigarettes and had as a beater a Gol model vehicle.

The drivers informed that they were carrying the cargo of contraband and were proceeding to the city of Birigui-SP. The two drivers and a 16-year-old were referred to the PF of Maringá.