Cigarettes were the biggest smuggling target in Brazil last year. The crime was responsible for the R $ 146 billion that the country failed to collect in 2017. The information was presented by the executive president of the Brazilian Institute of Ethics in Competition (ETCO), Edson Vismona, during a public hearing held this Friday morning. (09/03) by the Public Security Commission of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj).

According to Vismona, cigarettes represented 67,44% of illegal products seized in the country in 2017. Last year, 48% of cigarettes consumed in Brazil were the result of smuggling. “These items come mainly from Paraguay, due to the country's very low taxes, which favor production. Of the 67 billion cigarettes that Paraguay produces annually, only 2 billion are consumed by the inhabitants themselves. The rest is exported and, often, smuggled, ”he said.

Losses with evasion

The ETCO estimate is that tax evasion caused the loss of at least R $ 46 billion that would be collected in 2017. Of that number, at least R $ 9 billion was lost due to cigarettes sold in the country illegally. The other products that won out of collection losses due to evasion and contraband were clothes and medicines.

Congressman Paulo Ramos (PDT), a member of the Security Commission, said that he will propose a debate on the topic at the Permanent Forum of Strategic Development of the State of Rio. “At the Forum, we can deepen this debate, by involving more business and crime monitoring entities in the discussion. We cannot let our country continue to suffer so many financial losses due to the irregular trade in illegal products ”, he declared.

Also present at the hearing were Deputy Luiz Paulo (PSDB), Natan Schiper, representative of the Trade Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Fecomércio-RJ), Tatiana Abranches, representative of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan- RJ), delegate Celso Ribeiro, from the Police Station for the Suppression of Crimes Against Immaterial Property (DRCPIM), and José Roberto Lima, Regional Superintendent of the Federal Highway Police.

Source: alerj.rj.gov.br (090/03/2018)