BRASÍLIA: Brazilian police on Tuesday said they had launched an operation to smash an immigration ring charging Brazilian nationals thousands of dollars to be smuggled over the Mexican border and into the United States.
Police from the central state of Goias said after launching Operation Coyote that the ring's clients paid between 15,000 and 30,000 reais ($5,500 to $10,800) for their passage.
Those paying the least had to walk for four days to the border whereas those able to pay top dollar arrived either by bus or by air. All were given false papers, police said following raids in five Brazilian federal states including Rio de Janeiro.
Documents confiscated included bogus income and banking statements as well as false work papers and university diplomas designed to dupe consular officials into thinking the would-be immigrants were only entering on a work visa.
Police said they had hauled in dozens of people for questioning in connection with the racket.
They added that some of the alleged ringleaders, who face up to 24 years in jail, were abroad and on Interpol wanted lists and that US officials were likewise taking "necessary measures" to close down the network.
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