Source: Portal R7, 07/06/2011
The Korai, Duprat and 25 shopping malls, located at Rua Barão de Duprat, at number 225, in the central region of São Paulo, have remained closed to the public since Monday night (6). State, federal and municipal agencies are in place to inspect that it aims to combat piracy and tax evasion.
As of Tuesday afternoon (7), 88 stores were inspected and agents seized about 100 illegal objects, which were placed in 416 bags. Among employees and shopkeepers, 320 people were identified and qualified and 18 were conducted by the Federal Police. They may be notified to leave the country.
According to the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Security, still in the operation, coordinated by the Integrated Security Management Office, three people were referred to the 1st Police District. Two of them for hiding 1.600 counterfeit watches and 400 cell phones without an invoice inside a vehicle. The other, for selling 7.500 pirated CDs and DVDs.
In addition to the three shopping malls, Rua Barão de Duprat is closed by GCM (Guarda Civil Metropolitana). The agents allow the movement of traders, employees on the spot. According to the secretariat, there is still no date for the end of the operation and reopening of the malls.
History
In April, the inspection also closed the Pagé gallery, a traditional popular shopping center located in the region of 25 de Março, downtown São Paulo, for ten days. The operation resulted in the seizure of tons of pirated and smuggled goods and, soon after, the municipal administration announced that it will transform the traditional shopping center into an outlet, a set of stores that sell products from major brands directly from the factory.
Although the measure was announced by the city as a major action to combat illegal trade, for experts heard by the R7, the fight against smuggling would be more effective if it stopped operating in retail locations.
According to security and social affairs scholars, repressive measures against smuggling and piracy hotspots only cause illegal trade to simply migrate to another point.
