| Agriculture

Federal Police launch action to crack down on billion-dollar soybean smuggling

Criminal organization turned over 3,5 billion reais in five years and used crypto assets to pay suppliers abroad

05.12.2023 | 14:33 (UTC -3)

Federal police

This morning (5/12), the Federal Police launched operations Dangerous and Paschoal, to dismantle the criminal organization responsible for a billion-dollar grain smuggling scheme, especially soybeans and corn, and pesticides brought from Argentina to Brazil through ports. illegal settlements located on the banks of the Uruguay River. The action also has the support of the Military Brigade, the Federal Revenue of Brazil, the State Revenue of Rio Grande do Sul and the PRF.

The action mobilized 200 federal police officers to execute 59 search and seizure warrants and 16 arrest warrants in the cities of Palmeira das Missões/RS, Rodeio Bonito/RS, Cerro Grande/RS, Três Passos/RS, Tiradentes do Sul/RS , Horizontina/RS, Crissiumal/RS, Santo Ângelo/RS, Condor/RS, Tuparendi/RS, Santana do Livramento/RS, Itapema/SC, Itaí/SP, Palmas/TO and São Luis/MA.

Measures are also taken to block bank accounts linked to individuals and legal entities, totaling approximately 58 million reais, and the kidnapping and seizure of cars and luxury properties and an aircraft with an estimated value of 3,6 million reais.

The investigations began in 2022 and found that the criminal organization is formed by three groups that act in a coordinated manner between the holders of the clandestine ports, the beneficiaries and resellers of the smuggled goods and the financial operators.

Through money changers, the group carried out several foreign exchange operations outside the legal system to promote currency evasion with the purpose of paying suppliers of goods abroad, with two of the companies used for this purpose acquiring crypto assets in the order of 1,2 billion of reals.

The entire criminal operation is supported by the use of fraudulent documentation, such as notes from rural producers released to justify the large volume of smuggled grains sold or issued by shell companies.

The volume of internalized goods, combined with the values used for currency evasion and money laundering, allowed the criminal organization to generate amounts exceeding R$3,5 billion in the last five years.

During the investigation period, 171 tons of soybeans, soybean meal and corn were seized, 11 people were arrested in the act and trucks, cars, wines and pesticides were seized.