The civil police of Rio de Janeiro rescued Paraguayans and a Brazilian in a near-slavery situation in a clandestine Paraguayan cigarette factory in Duque de Caxias.
July 08, 2022 – 09:08 PM
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A total of 23 Paraguayans and a Brazilian were rescued in slave-like situation in a cigarette factory in Duke of Caxias, Rio de Janeiro.
Several of the compatriots were taken under the promise of working in a clothing factory, with a salary of 3,000 reais per month and another 500 in food benefits, but since they arrived – 3 months ago – they have not received any payment, according to statements taken by the interveners, replicates the website of the O Globo group.
Read More: Factories that counterfeit Paraguayan cigarettes, a big economic problem for Brazil
According to the investigation carried out by the Brazilian authorities, the men would have worked for 30 days without the right to rest and prohibited from leaving the property. In addition, the men who took the Paraguayans and the Brazilian to the factory took away their cell phones.
Read More: Slaves for the cigarette
Paraguayan brand cigarettes
The interveners also found evidence of the manufacture of 500 boxes per day of the Gift brand , although they are still investigating the origin of the raw material. The brand is known because it previously entered smuggling from Paraguay.
The clandestine cigarette industry moves billions in Brazil. And almost half of the cigarettes consumed are illegal.
Read More: Navy seizes one and a half million cigarette packs in the Paraná River
Situation of slavery for criminal group
In 2019, a territorial dispute began over the exploitation of the sale of this Paraguayan cigar, involving drug traffickers, militiamen and even criminals.
Police officers from the General Department to Combat Corruption, Organized Crime and Money Laundering (DCOC) and the Delegation for the Defense of Delegated Services (DDSD) participated in the action, as well as labor tax inspectors from the Regional Labor Superintendence in Rio de Janeiro, January.
After a declaration, they may be extradited.
The men will testify at the DCOC this Friday and will then be referred to the Federal Police. There they will be able to explain why they are there, before their extradition to Paraguay is decided.
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