Source: Tribuna do Brasil - Brasília / DF - 14/09/2010

The Federal Revenue Service and the Federal Police launched Operation Commodore today (14), with the objective of combating smuggling and embezzlement on the border between Brazil and Uruguay. 11 arrest warrants and 22 search and seizure warrants, issued by the Federal Criminal Court of Santana do Livramento (RS), are being carried out. The deviation occurs when the goods can be legally imported, but are diverted so as not to have the tax collected. Smuggling is characterized by the illegal import or export of prohibited goods.

In addition to Santana do Livramento, the 25 servers of the Federal Revenue Service and 81 federal police officers involved in the operation search homes and commercial establishments in the cities of Porto Alegre, Canoas and Caxias do Sul.

According to the IRS, the gang that acted in the transport of misguided goods, originally destined for sale in duty free shops in Rivera, Uruguay, illegally brought the products to Brazil.

During the investigation, R $ 2 million in goods were seized, including tires, vintage cars, cheeses, beverages and perfumes. The damage to public coffers can reach R $ 20 million in the last 12 months according to the IRS.

Source: Agency Brazil