The Federal Police’s airport unit in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná – a city bordering Paraguay and Argentina – announced on 18 September 2026 the arrest of a domestic passenger attempting to fly to Petrolina with 20 high-end smartphones and several bottles of imported perfume hidden inside a loudspeaker box. The goods carried no import paperwork and exceeded the BRL 5,000 duty-free personal-use exemption, constituting the crime of descaminho (customs evasion). Foz do Iguaçu’s airport sits near the Friendship Bridge, a major grey-market conduit. The PF has stepped up random checks there after seizing over BRL 12 million in undeclared merchandise since January. The latest case underscores Brazil’s toughening stance on informal cross-border trade as it prepares to implement the new International Travellers’ Declaration (DTI) system nationwide in November. Business travellers transiting regional airports should expect more detailed luggage inspections, especially if routing through duty-free shopping hubs such as Ciudad del Este. Companies relocating staff should brief assignees on strict limits for carrying new electronics into Brazil and the importance of keeping receipts handy. Violations can trigger fines of 50 percent of the undeclared value plus seizure of the goods. The PF said the passenger was charged under Article 334-A of the Penal Code and released on bail pending trial; the phones and perfumes will be auctioned or donated to social programmes if forfeited. The agency encourages travellers to use its e-Declaração app to pre-register valuables and speed passage through customs.
Source: Polícia Federal
