Source: Correio da Paraíba - João Pessoa / PB - 19/10/2010

The Federal Police, with the support of the Federal Highway Police, the Military Police and the Internal Revenue Service, launched Operation Catenga this Tuesday morning (19), in order to dismantle one of the largest armed gangs in the Northeast involved in the illegal sale of contraband cigarettes, cigarettes stolen by cargo theft from regular companies, as well as cigarettes with a false seal of tax control.

The name, which means Gecko, is an allusion to the nickname used by one of the main targets of the Operation. The investigation began in September 2008 after a cigarette seizure in the city of Pombal / PB. Since then, based on a controlled action granted in court, it has been possible to make several flagrant arrests and cigarette seizures over the years 2009 and 2010.

With the deepening of the investigations it was possible to reach those responsible not only for the logistics of buying, selling and transporting the cigarette, but also for the financing of the criminal actions, which yielded expressive values, making it possible to purchase and flaunt various vehicles and properties.

The gang's modus operandi was the importation of cigarettes of Paraguayan origin, the robbery of deposits by regular companies and the purchase / sale of cigarettes with a false IPI stamp. Such goods were transported to the city of Patos / PB in trucks specifically prepared to hide the illicit cargo. After remaining in storage in this city, the cargo was distributed in small cars to several cities in Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará.

In all, in addition to blocking the bank accounts of the main investigated persons, 13 (thirteen) preventive arrest warrants are being carried out in the states of Paraíba and Ceará, 16 (sixteen) search and seizure warrants in the states of Paraíba, Ceará, São Paulo and Paraná, as well as warrants for kidnapping and seizure of assets.

Source: The State of Maranhão - 17/10/2010

An operation carried out over this week in the São Luís Metropolitan Region resulted in the seizure of 23 wallets of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes. The cargo, according to the Civil Police, was sold illegally in a small trade called Comercial Rouba Pequeno, located in the João Paulo neighborhood.

“We took steps and inspected several commercial establishments in the municipalities of São José de Ribamar and Paço do Lumiar. Today (yesterday), we had information that Comercial Rouba Pequeno, near João Paulo's Fair, was selling imported cigarettes. The product had no invoice ”, explained Chief Breno Galdino, from the State Superintendence of Criminal Investigations (Seic).

At the apprehension site, on Avenida Projetada, a woman identified as Lídia de Sena, 51, born in Coroatá, was summoned to appear on Monday, 18, at the headquarters of Seic, to provide clarification on the purchase of the product. As explained by Galdino, two of the three brands collected have prohibited sales in Brazil.

“Derby, US and TC were found. In the first, the product was falsified. The next two are smuggled and, therefore, are forbidden to sell in the country. In all, 24 boxes of cigarettes were seized ”, informed the Seic delegate who, until the closing of this edition, continued to inspect other commercial points in the capital.

Source: G1 - Rio de Janeiro / RJ - 14/10/2010

From G1 MG - On Thursday (14), the Federal Police arrested 12 people suspected of participating in a cigarette smuggling ring from Paraguay, in Montes Claros, in the north of Minas Gerais. According to the police, investigations into the “Smoke Curtain” operation lasted nine months.

According to the police, 19 search and seizure warrants were served. The head of the group would be a military policeman. His family would also be involved in the crimes.

According to the police, the gang was very organized. Group members had specific tasks and used shell companies to cover up the illegal trade.

During the searches, the police seized R $ 50 packs of cigarettes, three firearms, ammunition, four vehicles, four wild birds and documents. The military police officer will respond to the process in freedom, according to the PF.

Source: Zero Hora - Porto Alegre / RS - 08/10/2010

Four groups that smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay to Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguayan municipalities had their actions affected yesterday by Operation Seven of Diamonds of the Federal Police of Pelotas. Three suspects were arrested and 85 cigarettes seized. Eleven properties and 28 vehicles of group leaders were blocked by court order.

The gangs had their cells functioning in Pelotas, in the south of the state, separately, although they knew about each other's actions and carried out the same type of crime. According to the delegate of the Federal Police, Alexandre Pauli, the groups smuggled cigarettes from Paraguay and brought them directly to the State through the Brazilian border through Foz do Iguaçu or through the border with Argentina.

In addition to selling in the Metropolitan Region and the south of the state, criminals exported cigarettes to Uruguay through the municipalities of Chuí and Jaguarão.

The investigation, which began in March, has arrested 21 people over the past six months, in addition to the seizure of 315 packs and 18 vehicles. In addition to serving 15 search and seizure warrants in Pelotas, seven were carried out in Sentinela do Sul, Tapes and Guaíba, where gang suppliers worked.