March 13, 2025
Reading time • 5 min
Million-dollar seizure: fake shoes and plastic scrap are taken out of circulation
The Federal Revenue Service in Dionísio Cerqueira, with the support of the Federal Police, carried out a major seizure at a clandestine warehouse in the city of Barracão/PR, located approximately 1km from the border with Argentina. More than 10,000 pairs of fake sneakers from famous brands and 25 tons of plastic scrap were confiscated, totaling an estimated 3 million reais in goods without tax documentation.
The warehouse, which had been deactivated for some time, was used to commit crimes of smuggling and embezzlement. The place was rented in the name of an Argentine citizen and had been monitored by the Federal Revenue Service Customs, which noticed suspicious movements.
At the same location, the Federal Revenue Service had already made a similar seizure recently. The counterfeit shoes were being exported to Argentina via a clandestine border crossing point. Plastic scrap, illegally imported from the neighboring country, has also been circulating frequently in the region, despite the legal ban.
In addition to the merchandise, three loaded trucks and a trailer were seized. Three more trucks were needed to transport the rest of the goods found in the warehouse.
Fake sneakers pose a risk to public health and can cause injuries, knee problems and complications in ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones and other joints, due to the lack of adequate impact absorption during exercise.
The Federal Revenue Service has been working hard to remove products from the market that enter the country irregularly, without paying the taxes due, representing unfair competition to legally marketed products.
