From: CRE Brazil
Named as one of the largest cigarette smugglers in Brazil, 62-year old Roberto Eleutério da Silva, known as Lobão, began his trial in São Paulo. He and another 20 people, who were arrested in July last year, are charged with criminal organization, corruption and smuggling. The gang headed by Lobão moved at least R$22 million per month (US$6.8 million), according to the Federal Police.
Investigations revealed that the group had created seven front companies to buy and resell Paraguay’s smuggled cigarettes. The gang had been in the illegal market for over 25 years. Lobão was arrested for the first time in 2003, when he was sentenced to 22 years in jail, but was released after serving part of the sentence.
