Illicit Trade: A Lurking Economic Threat

The illicit trade, an ever-evolving reality that transcends borders and adapts to the new globalized economic landscape, poses a significant threat to various industrial sectors in Brazil. According to recent studies, losses attributed to piracy reached R$500 billion by 2025, a substantial increase from the R$100 billion recorded around a decade ago. This phenomenon is no longer confined to informal trade or traditional individual smuggling activities; it has evolved into a complex network of criminal organizations operating on a global scale and interacting with institutional structures. Textiles, alcoholic beverages, and fuels lead this trend, while experts identify 35 other sectors that directly suffer from illegal activity. For these groups, it is an extremely lucrative equation as they do not pay taxes and enjoy a sense of impunity under existing laws, which impose minimal penalties compared to the illicit revenue generated. The activities of such groups have a direct impact on the formal economy by reducing fiscal revenues and compromising the competitiveness of legitimate products in the market. Source: Valor Econômico