The Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP) managed to stop a smuggling operation of more than 150 tons of soybeans that a gang planned to carry out to Brazil. With the collaboration of the Argentine Federal Police, the operation was stopped, which could cause a loss of $12,5 million for smuggling and 1,3 million pesos for evasion of VAT and Income Tax.
Customs and DGI officials carried out 13 simultaneous raids with security forces, in the towns of El Soberbio, Oberá, and Paraje Progreso (Colonia Aurora), Misiones, in different establishments belonging to the owners of this illegal operation.
The “modus operandi” consisted of transporting soybeans in their own and third-party trucks, crossing the provinces from Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Corrientes, and Misiones, -with adulterated shipping notes-, to be stored in warehouses, and then transported to their farms, located on the banks of the Uruguay River.
There, from clandestine ports, they smuggled soybeans on improvised rafts to Brazil.
In this way, the operations proceeded to analyze the grain consignment notes found in the possession of the transporters, which turned out to be false when compared by AFIP officials. One of those involved was arrested, and more than 150 tons of soybeans, 22 tons of canary seed and just over 20 tons of fertilizer of Brazilian origin were seized; three trucks with their semi-trailers, two of which were loaded with bulk soybeans.
In addition, documents of interest to the case, weapons, smaller vehicles and cash were seized. The investigation continues in the Federal Court of Oberá, which ordered the aforementioned searches.
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