The crime of smuggling involves the import of products without due payment of taxes. Check out the case below.
PRF agent in seizure of bitcoin mining machines in Paraíba. Disclosure/PF.
The Federal Highway Police in Paraíba seized a large quantity of bitcoin mining machines during an operation. The electronic equipment did not have invoices, which is why they were seized.
The case is one of several others in Brazil, when authorities have fined and seized equipment without invoices. This is because, known as smuggling, the crime is an attempt to avoid paying taxes in the country, whether on the entry or exit of products and goods.
In addition to the bitcoin mining machines, there were other products with the two men approached, one aged 40 and the other aged 34.
Two men with bitcoin mining equipment without an invoice were stopped by the PRF on their way to Campina Grande
According to the PRF, the actions last week aimed to combat crime. And during the actions, one of the vehicles surprised everyone, as it had 18 bitcoin mining machines inside.
The action took place in the municipality of Queimadas-PB, in the Paraíba countryside, during an inspection on BR-104, km 140. At the time, the PRF stopped a Ford Ranger pickup truck with two occupants who were transporting several products of foreign origin without the proper tax documentation.
Those involved reported having purchased the merchandise in Paulo Afonso-BA and that it was destined for Campina Grande-PB. Among the seized items were 18 pieces of computer equipment used to mine bitcoin, two wines of Argentine origin, a whiskey of Paraguayan origin, two chocolates of Swiss origin, two smartphones of Chinese origin, socks, headphones, a set of pencils and toys with foreign labels, all of this, without the respective invoices.
Given the evidence observed, they were charged with smuggling. The merchandise was seized and sent to the Federal Revenue Service.
In addition, the vehicle was also seized due to licensing irregularities. With information from the PRF.
Ford Ranger full of bitcoin mining machines in Paraíba, suspects said they were on their way to Campina Grande. Reproduction/PRF.
This is not the first time that a seizure of this type has occurred.
In July 2024, the Police and Federal Revenue launched Operation Corisco Turbo, which identified a criminal organization operating cryptocurrencies for remittances without paying taxes. The suspects are also charged with the crime of smuggling in this case.
But before that, in 2021, the PRF carried out a wide-ranging operation on the highways in Rio de Janeiro with the focus of ending the power of organized crime, intercepting valuable cargo for criminals.
However, during a search of a Jeep Renegade, federal agents found 25 bitcoin mining machines purchased in Paraguay that did not have an invoice. The crime of smuggling was registered against the suspect, who had all of the assets purchased for R$212,325.00 seized.
With the new operation, it is clear that acquiring bitcoin equipment in other countries and bringing it to Brazil, without due taxation, has come under the authorities' radar.