Sefa seizes a load of 25 tons of açaí and nearly 77,000 bottles of aguardente in Pará
Inspection actions carried out in Cachoeira do Piriá, Novo Progresso, and Juruti totaled over R$ 400,000 in irregular goods; frauds involve discrepancies in tax rates and the use of shell companies
State tax inspectors from the State Department of Finance (Sefa), through the Coordination of Control of Goods in Transit of Gurupi, seized, on June 6, a load of 25 tons of açaí pulp being transported in a refrigerated truck. The vehicle had left Igarapé-Miri (PA) heading to the cities of Aracaju (SE) and Fortaleza (CE). The goods were valued at R$ 285,000.
“After the start of the inspection and the delivery of the tax documents, the officials found inconsistencies in the tax documents. The invoices were highlighting only part of the taxes, and the other part had a tax rate of 0%. Then a physical verification of the goods was carried out, and it was found that the entire load was açaí at 14%, and not 12%, as stated in the invoice. The tax documents were disregarded, and the tax due to the State was charged,” informed the coordinator of the tax unit, Gustavo Bozola.
A Term of Seizure and Deposit (TAD) was drawn up in the amount of R$ 61,560.00. The amount was paid, and the load was released.
Aguardente destined for Roraima
On the previous day, June 5, at the Coordination of Control of Goods in Transit of Serra do Cachimbo — located at km 785 of the BR-163 highway (Cuiabá-Santarém), in the municipality of Novo Progresso, southwestern Pará — 76,800 bottles of 500 ml of aguardente were seized. The load left Anápolis (GO) destined for a company located in Bonfim (RR), and was valued at R$ 162,392.22.
“In analyzing the documents presented, the team found that the recipient company in Roraima had been recently established. The Department of Finance contacted the secretary of that municipality to seek information about the company. The Sefaz/RR suspended the said company for simulation and fraud,” reported the unit coordinator, Maycon Freitas.
The director of Inspection at Sefa, Paulo Veras, explained that the creation of shell companies is a common practice to evade the tax authorities, especially in the beverage sector, which has a high tax burden.
“That’s why there is a need for detailed analysis of the documents presented in transit operations, as well as investigating information in the systems, which is often done in partnership between state tax authorities, strengthening the work with border states,” he emphasized.
The operation resulted in the issuance of a Term of Seizure and Deposit (TAD) in the amount of R$ 110,641.72, referring to the tax and the fines applied.
River inspection on the Amazon River
On the same day, June 6, another action by Sefa — this time carried out by the Coordination of Control of Goods in Transit of Tapajós, in Lower Amazon — seized various goods transported without an invoice during a river inspection operation on the Amazon River, near the municipality of Juruti (PA).
Among the items retained were: 500 gas cylinders, 600 m³ of gravel destined for Parintins (AM), 1,812 liters of fabric softeners and disinfectants that had left Manaus (AM) destined for Juruti, and 11,079 units of two-liter soft drinks, also originating from Manaus and with a final destination in Juruti. The total value of the goods was estimated at R$ 98,494.77.
“The inspection was carried out with the support of military police, conducting approaches on vessels originating from the state of Amazonas and destined for the state of Pará and also leaving the state of Pará heading to that state,” reported the coordinator Roberto Mota.
At the end of the operation, five Terms of Seizure and Deposit (TADs) were drawn up, totaling R$ 38,750.61, referring to taxes and fines.
