Cisco's Brazilian Offices Raided By Tax Authorities

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) — Authorities raided Brazilian offices of Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of computer network equipment, and detained some employees in an investigation of an alleged scheme to avoid duties on products shipped from offshore tax havens.

Police and tax agents also arrested dozens of people Tuesday and searched homes of Brazilians involved in the alleged plot. A former top Cisco executive for Brazil is among those under investigation, according to a statement issued by Federal Judge Alexandre Cassetari. The statement did not name the executive.

Cisco said in a statement late Tuesday that the raids temporarily closed its offices in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. A ''small number'' of Cisco employees were detained but no formal accusations were lodged against them, the company said.

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