The Federal Revenue Service Closes Two Shopping Malls in Brás as Part of a Crackdown on Counterfeit Goods
- May 18
- 3 min read
Shopping 25 Brás and Stunt are expected to remain closed for at least two weeks; the action targets World Cup jerseys, untaxed goods, and prohibited items, such as e-cigarettes
Operation “Desvio de Rota,” launched by the Federal Revenue Service on Monday (18), shut down Shopping 25 Brás and Stunt in Brás, in downtown São Paulo, to investigate the sale of counterfeit products and irregular merchandise. The operation primarily targets national team jerseys and World Cup-related merchandise, amid rising demand for sporting goods.
The two shopping centers house hundreds of stalls and stores. Inspectors are expected to sort through inventory, verify sales receipts, and seize products without proof of origin or showing signs of counterfeiting.
Operation “Detour” Targets Counterfeit World Cup Jerseys
Operation Desvio de Rota focuses on the large-scale trade in counterfeit goods. National team jerseys, club uniforms, sporting goods, and imported goods without proper documentation are among the Federal Revenue Service’s main targets.
Goods accompanied by invoices and proper documentation may be released after verification by auditors. Products without proof of origin, however, are subject to seizure and administrative and criminal proceedings.
As of the publication of this report, the Federal Revenue Service had not yet released a public report detailing the total volume seized during Monday’s operation.
Shopping 25 Brás caught fire in 2024
Shopping 25 Brás, one of the targets of Monday’s operation, was also struck by a major fire on October 30, 2024. At the time, the São Paulo City Government reported that 13 bus routes were rerouted due to the fire at Shopping 25 in the Brás neighborhood.
After the fire, the São Paulo Municipal Public Services Regulatory Agency issued a regulation to allow, on an emergency and temporary basis, the free installation of stalls for merchants affected by the fire in the Shopping Circuit. The SP Regula resolution refers to store owners affected by the fire in the Brás neighborhood, at “Shopping 25 de Março,” and surrounding areas.
In February 2025, the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Planning and Licensing also reviewed an application for a reconstruction permit for properties on Barão de Ladário Street, an address linked to the commercial complex. The City Hall document made reconstruction conditional on compliance with accessibility and safety requirements.
History of piracy at Shopping 25 Brás
Shopping 25 Brás had already been the target of anti-piracy operations. In 2012, a raid coordinated by the São Paulo City Government seized more than 1 million illegal products at the site. According to the City Government’s official statement, only 26 of the 355 stores inspected were able to provide receipts at the time.
The same operation revealed that no store had a business license and that more than 100 establishments were shut down. The seized products included sneakers, clothing, handbags, sunglasses, watches, cell phones, and accessories.
In 2017, Revista Fórum reported that the João Doria administration decided to reopen a shopping mall that had been closed for piracy after those responsible signed a conduct adjustment agreement.
The IRS had already taken action in Brás in February
Operation Desvio de Rota comes less than three months after another Federal Revenue Service crackdown in Brás. In February, the agency carried out Operation Ressaca, also at a popular shopping mall in the area, with the expectation of seizing more than 4,000 units of counterfeit goods—primarily clothing and footwear—valued at R$ 3 million.
In the official statement regarding Operation Ressaca, the Federal Revenue Service stated that such practices harm merchants, importers, and manufacturers operating within the law, reduce formal employment, result in tax evasion, and violate trademark and consumer rights.
The fight against piracy is also addressed by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security through the National Council for Combating Piracy and Intellectual Property Crimes. The official structure is described on the MJSP’s anti-piracy webpage.
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