Source: Correio do Povo - RS - 12/09/2009

The Federal Police in Cascavel, Paraná, this week dismantled a cigarette smuggling chain from Paraguay, whose ramifications extended to Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. The basis of the scheme was in the city of Francisco Beltrão (PR), especially in the rural area. Parana's federal police officers served 12 search and seizure warrants, in addition to five arrest warrants. The investigations identified that the distribution of the smuggled cigarette occurred in Francisco Beltrão, where buyers from Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina sought the merchandise to take to their states. The middlemen returned with the contraband and passed it on to street vendors and peripheral businesses in several cities.

According to the Federal Police, the disjointed gang in Francisco Beltrão was one of the largest in Paraná and acted together with another criminal organization that was dismantled in March this year. Federal police believe that there will now be a shortage of Paraguayan cigarettes in the three states, reflecting even the increase in the price of the pack on the streets.

The Federal Highway Police of Paraná spotted a refrigerator truck loaded with 500 packs of smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay on BR 277, in Céu Azul. The vehicle was carrying a load of frozen, toothpick-like potatoes, as a hoax. The 47-year-old truck driver confirmed that the goods came from Paraguay, but that he started traveling with the truck in Foz do Iguaçu (PR). He revealed that he would receive R $ 2,5 for the transport, but did not indicate the destination.