In view of a billion-dollar grain smuggling scheme, especially soybeans and corn, as well as pesticides, which are transported from Argentina to Brazil through clandestine ports, the Federal Police of Santo Angelo (RS) launched Operation Dangerous and Paschoal this morning. Tuesday (5).

The planes are among the items confiscated by the Federal Police in an operation against grain smuggling – Photo: PF/Reproduction

Cargoes were transported through clandestine ports located on the banks of the Uruguay River. The operation mobilized 200 federal police officers to execute 59 search and arrest warrants and 16 arrest warrants, including Itapema, on the northern coast of Santa Catarina.

In addition to Itapema, court orders were also implemented in the cities of Palmeira das Missoes, Rodeio Bonito, Cerro Grande, Tres Passus, Tiradentes do Sul, Horizontina, Crissiumal, Santo Angelo, Condor, Tuparendi, Santana do Livramento, as well as in Itay (SP), Palmas (TO) and San Luis (MA).

Itapema entered the path of search and arrest warrants during the PF operation to combat grain smuggling in the RS – Video: PF/Reproduction

Measures are also being taken to block the bank accounts of individuals and legal entities for a total amount of about 58 million reais, as well as to steal and confiscate cars and luxury goods, as well as an aircraft with an estimated value of 3.6 million reais.

The investigation began in 2022 and established that the criminal organization consists of three groups that act in coordination between the owners of secret ports, beneficiaries and resellers of smuggled goods and financial operators.

How the smuggling scheme worked

Through money changers, the group carried out several foreign exchange transactions outside the legal system to facilitate currency evasion to pay suppliers of goods abroad, with two companies used for this purpose acquiring crypto assets worth approximately 1 reais. 2 billion.

The entire criminal operation is supported by the use of false documentation, such as rural producer notes, issued to justify the large volumes of smuggled grain sold or released by front companies.

Federal Police Uncover Billion Dollar Scheme – Video: PF/Reproduction

The volume of goods intercepted, combined with the amounts used for currency evasion and money laundering, has allowed the criminal organization to generate a turnover of more than R$3.5 billion over the past five years.

During the investigation, 171 tons of soybeans, soybean meal and corn were seized, 11 people were arrested red-handed, and trucks, cars, wine and pesticides were seized. The action also has the support of the Military Brigade, the Brazilian Federal Tax Service, the State Tax Service of Rio Grande do Sul and the PRF (Federal Traffic Police).

Search and arrest warrants issued

• RS/Cerro Grande – 3
• RS/Condor – 1
• RS/Crissiumal – 1
• RS/Horizontina – 1
• RS/Palmeira das Missoes – 22
• RS/Rodeio Bonito – 1
• RS/Santana do Livramento – 4
• RS/Santo Angelo – 1
• RS/Tiradentes do Sul – 9
• RS/Three steps – 7
• RS/Tuparendi – 2
• SC/Itapema – 1
• SP/Italy – 2
• Massachusetts/San Luis – 1
• TO/Palmas – 3

Warrants of preventive arrest were issued:

• RS/Palmeira das Missões – 4

Temporary arrest warrants issued:

• RS/Cerro Grande – 1
• RS/Crissiumal – 1
• RS/Palmeira das Missoes – 3
• RS/Santana do Livramento – 1
• RS/Tiradentes do Sul – 4
• RS/Three steps – 2