Weight-loss products are increasingly found among contraband goods from Paraguay, and the illegal market in Brazil could be worth more than R$ 2 billion to organized crime, according to a study
- May 12
- 3 min read
The smuggling of medications and weight-loss pens across the border between Brazil and Paraguay could generate more than R$ 2 billion in 2026, according to an estimate by the Institute for Economic and Social Development of Border Regions (Idesf). The study also estimates that only 5% to 10% of these illegal products are intercepted by Brazilian authorities.
Paraná stands out as one of the main entry points for these illegal products into the country, due to its more than 200 kilometers of border with Paraguay and the three international bridges in the western part of the state.
In Foz do Iguaçu alone—one of the main connections to the neighboring country—the Federal Revenue Service seized more than 64,000 weight-loss medications from January through May of this year. This figure represents a 700% increase over the total seized in all of 2025, which was 8,000 medications.
The crime of smuggling involves the clandestine import or export of goods that are prohibited or whose entry into or exit from the national territory is restricted, in violation of health, customs, or security regulations. It is punishable by imprisonment for 2 to 5 years.
According to Luciano Barros, a researcher and director at Idesf, criminal organizations have begun investing in high-demand, high-value-added contraband products; as a result, weight-loss pens have become the new focus of these gangs due to growing demand in the Brazilian market.
“Criminal gangs are always on the lookout for products that are highly profitable and sell quickly. Since they already have a firm grasp on the logistics of smuggling, they can easily introduce new items into the black market,” he explained.
The importation of weight-loss drugs from Paraguay is restricted by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). In a new ruling, the agency banned the import and use of tirzepatide under the Synedica and TG brands, which are the main targets of seizures, according to the Federal Revenue Service.
According to the study, these medications are among the most profitable products for organized crime. The profit margin on smuggling reaches 415%, second only to illegal cigarettes.
The difference in the tax burden between the two countries is cited as one of the main factors driving the growth of the illegal market.
While taxes on medications in Paraguay are around 5%, in Brazil they range from 20%.
According to the researcher, the figures indicate the scale of the problem for the country.
“[Smuggling] is growing very quickly because of the pens. It could exceed R$ 2 billion in 2026. The medication is much easier to transport.
Unlike cigarettes, which take up a lot of space, pills and pens can be hidden in clothing or backpacks. What is seized represents a very small portion of what actually enters the country,” he said.
According to the study, smuggling between Paraguay and Brazil generates approximately R$ 60 billion per year and has become one of the main sources of funding for organized crime in the country. The study also shows that the value generated by smuggling exceeds the official trade balance between Brazil and Paraguay and is equivalent to about one-quarter of Paraguay’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Luciano Barros explains that the estimate of the illegal market is based on the ratio between the volume seized and the estimate of what actually crosses the border.
“If the Federal Revenue Service seizes about R$ 5 billion per year and that represents around 7% of the total, we arrive at an estimated volume of R$ 60 billion generated annually,” he explained.
The Idesf study also revealed that the illegal market is no longer a fragmented activity but is now dominated by criminal factions, such as the First Capital Command (PCC) and Comando Vermelho. These organizations have structured routes, logistics, and distribution, reducing costs and increasing the profits of the criminal scheme.
“Unlike a decade ago, when there were many disconnected groups, today the factions have managed to standardize costs and, without competition, take the lead in the logistics of delivering these products,” the study reveals.
According to the researchers, the low risk and high profitability have made contraband rival even drug trafficking as a source of income for organized crime.
According to data cited in the study “Follow the Products” by the Brazilian Forum on Public Security, illegal cigarettes currently rival cocaine in terms of profitability for organized crime. While the illegal cigarette market generates approximately R$ 10.3 billion, cocaine yields approximately R$ 15 billion for criminals.
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