Police have seized a light aircraft that was allegedly carrying hundreds of smuggled smartphones in Brazil.

The plane was reportedly transporting 571 contraband iPhones, worth more than 3 million Brazilian reais (420,000 GBP), when it was intercepted at Costa Esmeralda Airport in Porto Belo, Santa Catarina on Monday morning.

Authorities from the Federal Revenue Secretariat said the single-engine RV-10 aircraft, which had flown from the Foz do Iguacu region, was stopped at around 9 am local time.

During the inspection, officers discovered the smartphones had no documentation to prove legal importation.

A Volkswagen Taos was found parked in front of the hangar at the time. Officials said the driver was assisting the pilot in pushing the aircraft into the warehouse.

The Federal Revenue Service seized the plane, vehicle, and electronic goods. The pilot and the driver were both arrested and taken to the Federal Police Station in Florianopolis.

Officials added that the 58-year-old pilot was already known to law enforcement. He had previously been detained in January 2023 in Ourinhos, Sao Paulo, for transporting 452 smartphones hidden in a false compartment in the rear bumper of a Renault Duster.