More than 50 tons of soybeans and almost 2 thousand liters of illegal pesticides are seized in Rio Grande do Sul

On June 9, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) launched Operation Ronda Agro LXXXIX in the municipalities of Santa Rosa and Três Passos, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. The operation focused on combating the irregular international transit of agricultural products and other illicit goods.

Coordinated by the Surveillance Program for Agricultural Defense for International Borders (Vigifronteiras), the operation was carried out in an integrated manner with the Military Brigade, the Brazilian Army, the Federal Police, the Federal Revenue Service and the Sentinel program, linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation (Seapi). The activities also had the support of the Integrated Center for Public Security and Environmental Protection (CISPPA), headquartered in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), linked to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

During the operation, rural establishments and grain receiving terminals were inspected. As a result, MAPA seized 51 tons of soybeans and 12 tons of onions that had been illegally brought into the country, in addition to 1,946 liters of products similar to unregistered pesticides. The Federal Police also seized a truck, a tractor, a trailer and an electric conveyor belt used to transport the irregular products from the Uruguay River to the country. The material was sent to the Federal Revenue Service for forfeiture. The estimated loss to the offenders exceeds half a million reais.

In addition to the economic impact, the operation aims to protect agricultural and public health. “Integrated action at the borders is essential to protect national agriculture from health and economic risks. Operations such as Ronda Agro reinforce MAPA’s commitment to food safety, animal and plant health, and the defense of the country’s interests in international trade,” highlighted the deputy director of Technical Services, Fabrício Pedrotti.

Major Anderson Machado, from the 4th Border Police Battalion of the Military Brigade, highlighted the importance of cooperation between agencies. “The presence and cooperative action of agencies is essential not only for the protection of agricultural defense, but also for maintaining public safety on the borders, where integrated actions become indispensable for confronting illicit activities and strengthening legality,” he stated.

For the Brazilian Army, the operation also reinforces national sovereignty. “The participation of the 1st Mechanized Cavalry Brigade demonstrated the effectiveness of the State’s integrated action in protecting strategic interests and dismantling transnational illicit networks,” explained Major Salóes, from the Southern Military Command.

Vigifronteiras' actions are part of the Integrated Border Protection Program (PPIF) and are aligned with the National Border Policy, in addition to being supported by decrees that attribute to the Secretariat of Agricultural Defense the competence to carry out activities to prevent and combat fraud against public health and consumer relations, among other illicit acts related to agricultural defense.