September 10, 2025
Reading time • 5 min
Enforcement activities – The Federal Revenue Service and Sefaz are conducting another operation this Wednesday at a store suspected of selling illegal products in SL.
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 operation is a shoe store located on Rua Saldanha da Gama. In addition to 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 embezzlement carries a penalty of 1 to 4 years’ imprisonment. Counterfeiting, on the other hand, is punishable by 3 months to 1 year’s imprisonment or a fine.
On Tuesday (9), a similar operation 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 will be returned.
“If they cannot prove it, the goods are declared lost. The Federal Revenue Service can then proceed to remove any identifying marks—such as logos and inscriptions—and donate the products to social projects through partnerships with public agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs). If it is not possible to remove the identifying marks, the products are destroyed,” explains Godoy.
In the specific case of smuggling, products without apparent branding may still be sent to auction or used in social projects, in accordance with current legislation.
