The Brazilian government has created the National Database of Restricted Mobile Phones to track stolen, lost, and recovered devices nationwide [1].
This initiative aims to disrupt the illegal trade of mobile devices by providing law enforcement with a unified tool to identify stolen property. By integrating this data, the government intends to make it more difficult for criminals to resell stolen hardware in the domestic market.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed the decree on June 23, 2026 [2], and the measure was published on June 24, 2026 [3]. The move officially transforms the "Celular Seguro" program into a permanent public security policy. "O Celular Seguro agora é política permanente, garantindo mais segurança aos cidadãos," Lula said [4].
The new system, known as the Banco Nacional de Celulares com Restrição (BNCR), integrates with the existing Sinesp security network. The database already contains more than 3.3 million devices with restrictions [5]. This centralization allows police to map the flow of stolen goods and aid in the recovery of devices for their original owners.
Government officials believe the database will significantly impact the economics of phone theft. Wellington Lima, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, said, "Com o BNCR, esperamos reduzir em até 30% a receptação de aparelhos" [6].
The launch ceremony for the initiative was held in Guarulhos, São Paulo [7]. The program is designed to target the organized crime networks that profit from the large-scale fencing of mobile electronics. Chico Lucas, the Secretary of Public Security, said the measure represents a significant advance in the fight against organized crime [8].
“"O Celular Seguro agora é política permanente, garantindo mais segurança aos cidadãos."”
The transition of 'Celular Seguro' from a temporary program to a permanent state policy indicates a strategic shift in Brazilian public security toward data-driven crime prevention. By targeting 'receptação' — the act of receiving or selling stolen goods — the government is attempting to collapse the demand side of the theft economy. If the BNCR successfully reduces the resale value of stolen phones, it may lower the incentive for street-level thefts over the long term.
