July 22, 2025
Reading time • 5 min
Enforcement activities – PRF seizes R$ 125,000 worth of contraband perfumes on BR-290 highway
Driver was arrested in flagrante delicto with 739 bottles purchased in Uruguay, without paying taxes.
A man was arrested in flagrante delicto by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) on Monday night (21) for illegally transporting a large quantity of imported perfumes. The arrest took place around 9 p.m. at the PRF station located at kilometer 213 of BR-290, in Pantano Grande.
During the inspection, agents found 739 bottles of perfume packed in boxes in the trunk, back seat, and roof rack of a GM Celta vehicle. The driver, the sole occupant of the car, admitted to having purchased the cargo in the city of Rivera, Uruguay, as evidenced by receipts seized along with the merchandise. The purchase was made for US$ 8,825.28—an amount that greatly exceeds the tax exemption quota for land imports, which is only US$ 500.00.
According to the head of the Federal Police in Santa Cruz, Chief Gustavo Schneider, based on current legislation, the 50% tax rate applied to the amount exceeding the quota and the evaded taxes exceed R$ 20,000, a limit that makes it impossible to recognize the criminal insignificance. The crime is classified as irregular importation of goods without payment of the taxes due.
A survey of retail websites found that the 739 bottles seized have an estimated value of R$ 125,521.00, with prices ranging from R$ 169.00 to R$ 239.00 per unit. The suspect was handed over to the Federal Police and will be charged with tax evasion. His name has not been released by the police authorities.
