PF conducts operation against group that laundered R$1 billion through illegal import of cell phones

The Federal Police carried out a major operation early this Wednesday morning (10) in six states and the Federal District against a group responsible for moving R$1 billion through the smuggling of state-of-the-art cell phones.

51 people are targeted by the Federal Police and the Federal Revenue Service, identified as participants in the scheme that received the devices from Foz do Iguaçu (PR) and sent them throughout Brazil.

There are 46 addresses targeted by warrants in Paraná, Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte, São Paulo, Goiás and Santa Catarina, in addition to the Federal District.

In the Federal District, agents are executing warrants in stores in the capital’s main shopping malls, one of which is in the central region, 1 km from the Esplanada dos Ministérios, and in the main imported goods fair in Brasília. The shopping centers, however, are not the subject of investigation.

Money launderers, businessmen and money changers are targets of searches.

The scheme
The investigation by the PF Superintendence in the Federal District indicates that the group opened shell companies, bought cell phones and passed them on without invoices, without paying taxes or with seals from the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), which is mandatory.

The agents’ calculations show that in two years the profit was R$1 billion for the gang.

The investigation began when in 2022 the Federal Police and the IRS seized a helicopter with 400 iPhone cell phones. The cargo was valued at R$4 million.

The aircraft landed at Botelho Airfield in São Sebastião, in the Federal District, and two people were arrested. From then on, the PF discovered the origin of the cell phones and the smuggling network.

What is smuggling?
Smuggling is a tax crime, characterized by the entry and exit of goods into and out of the country without paying taxes, which carries a penalty of up to 8 years in prison.