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The Federal Revenue Service and Sefaz are conducting another operation this Wednesday at a store suspected of selling illegal products in SL

  • Sep 9
  • 2 min read
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The Federal Revenue Service and the State Finance Department (Sefaz/RS), with support from the Military Police, are conducting another operation against copyright and intellectual property violations, as well as counterfeiting offenses, in downtown São Leopoldo.


This Wednesday (10), the target of the action is a tennis shoe store located on Saldanha da Gama Street. In addition to the civil servants, a truck is being used to remove the seized products. More than 200 bags of merchandise are being held.


According to the regional delegate of the Federal Revenue Service, Eduardo Godoy Corrêa, in addition to the crime of smuggling—which is the importation of products without the proper payment of taxes—there is also, from the point of view of Sefaz/RS, the practice of tax evasion, especially ICMS. “From Sefaz's point of view, there is ICMS evasion,” he explains.


The crime of smuggling carries a penalty of 1 to 4 years of imprisonment. Counterfeiting is punishable by 3 months to 1 year of detention or a fine.


On Tuesday (9), a similar action took place on Independência Street, also resulting in the seizure of more than 200 bags of goods.


Actions and Product Destination


The delegate explains that, from now on, the owners of the establishments (which are not the same) will be able to present documentation proving the suitability of the seized goods. If they prove their regularity, the products are returned.


“If they cannot prove it, the goods are declared lost. The Federal Revenue Service can then proceed to de-brand them—removing logos and inscriptions—and allocate the products to social projects through partnerships with public agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs). If de-branding is not possible, the products are destroyed,” explains Godoy.


In the specific case of smuggling, products without an apparent brand can still be sent to auctions or used in social projects, in accordance with current legislation.


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