The representatives of the bodies, of the Municipal, State and Federal Powers, and Society organizations that are members of the Security Office's Committee to Combat Piracy, Smuggling and Evasion, met this Monday morning (05/12), at the headquarters from the City Hall - Matarazzo Building, to present the balance of operations to combat piracy, smuggling and tax evasion carried out in the city of São Paulo since December last year, dealing with communication and legislation for this type of crime.

The meeting, led by the Secretary of the Security Office, Edsom Ortega, was attended by members of the Federal, Civil, Scientific and Military Police; the Regional Superintendence of the Federal Revenue, the State Finance Secretariat, PROCON, the Municipal Secretariats for the Coordination of the Subprefectures, Urban Security and the Metropolitan Civil Guard; of the Municipality's Finance Secretariat, in addition to partners such as the National Forum to Combat Piracy, the Brazilian Software Association, BPG, APCM and Instituto Etco.

Since December 2010 until now, operations to combat illegal trade have resulted in the seizure of 36 million products, valued at 1,9 billion reais, with tax evasion that “would give to build 200 municipal daycare centers in the city of São Paulo ”, As Secretary Ortega explained.

In one year, 27 major operations were carried out in the main commercial establishments in the city and 27 other one-off operations resulting from monitoring in places already inspected, which resulted in the seizure of over 370 thousand illegal items. For Cabinet members, these numbers were only possible thanks to the integration of the agencies, as stated by the representative of the Federal Revenue, Augusto Haruo Kumakura. "Today there is no more efficient way to act than through this partnership".

The president of the Etco Institute, Roberto Abdenur, said that “The battle conducted by the City Hall is fundamental for Brazil, because everything that happens in the largest capital of the country reflects elsewhere. The municipality's pioneering spirit in integrating all organizations should serve as an example for other cities ”.

Another way to prevent these illegal products from reaching the shelves is to inspect ports, airports and borders. To this end, the members of the bodies are committed to the task and investing in this type of control. "The costs are much lower than combating illegal products in a widespread manner across the country," explained Ortega.

Edson Vismona, president of the National Forum to Combat Piracy, said during the meeting that the effects of this fight are visible, since other municipalities are not managing to replenish the illegal market due to deposits located in the capital that had seized products. Vismona also said that São Paulo's work was exposed during a meeting in the Federal District, leaving the authorities “perplexed” because the capital of São Paulo was one of the largest centers for illegal products in the country.

The minimization of illegal trade is a factor that interferes with the decrease in crime, especially theft and robbery, which has already been statistically proven in places where there was an attack on piracy, smuggling and tax evasion. The works also contribute to investments in the country, since informality makes the government stop collecting billions of reais annually, money that could be invested in education, health, security, among others.

During the meeting, the participation of the press and the importance of communication were also addressed. For Roberto Abdenur from Instituto Etco "it is important to take the culture of piracy from the consumer and show that the cheap over time is expensive, since the materials are not of quality and behind them hide a series of crimes".

Representatives of the Office's bodies emphasize the importance of approving some bills that are pending in Brasilia and aim to increase penalties for traders and buyers of irregular products. “Criminalization is important because if there are no severe penalties, the criminal will continue to establish himself,” said Luiz Claudio Gare of BPG (Brand Protection Group).

For Ortega, the country is advancing on the topic, but it needs to follow the example of developed countries and severely punish this trade that finances organized crime. “The intelligence work of the secretariat, together with the police, is to collaborate in the investigation of the crime networks existing behind these alleged traders. Thus, we can guarantee that the street vendor or trader of illegal products is punished, because, in this situation, he can be classified as someone involved in the formation of gangs or gangs among other crimes ”, concludes the secretary and coordinator of the Security Office.

Awards
The Municipality of São Paulo, represented by Secretary Edsom Ortega, was awarded for the work developed in the fight against trade in pirated products in the city by the Brazilian Association of Software Companies (ABES), Moution Picture Association (MPA) and by the National Council to Combat Piracy of the Ministry of Justice. The Secretary shared the prizes with the federal, state and municipal bodies that participate and support operations such as the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Society's organizations and the Brands Group.

Ortega highlighted the importance of working together, the synergy that exists in intelligence, repression, criminal framing actions and highlighted the preventive, educational and reintegration activities in formal work and in the sale of legal products - of those who previously sold pirated and illegal products.