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Law 15.181/2025, enacted in 2025, increases penalties for theft and robbery of electrical and telephone cables, and creates new penalties for receiving stolen goods. Learn more about the impacts of this measure.
A Law 15.181 / 2025, signed into law by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and published on July 28, 2025, introduces significant changes to the punishment for crimes involving theft and robbery of electrical and telephone cables. Now, penalties for these crimes can reach up to 15 years in prison, a substantial increase compared to the previous legislation.
This measure was adopted in response to the growing number of thefts of cables essential for the provision of services such as electricity and telecommunications in Brazil, which have caused considerable financial and social damage.
The change to the Penal Code was motivated by the need to combat criminal gangs that specialize in this type of crime, often targeting materials such as copper and aluminum found in cables, which have great value on the illegal market.
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The new legislation not only toughens penalties, but also creates new penalties for those who commit these crimes or sell stolen items.
What does Law 15.181 change in the punishment for robbery and theft crimes?
With the enactment of Law 15.181, the penalties for theft of electrical and telephone cables were expanded.
According to the previous Penal Code, robbery was punishable by sentences of 4 to 10 years.
Now, the penalty can be increased by one-third to one-half when the crime involves essential equipment, such as those of electricity, telephony ou data, which can lead to up to 15 years in prison, depending on the severity of the offense.
Furthermore, the penalty for the theft of cables and similar materials was also changed. Previously, the Penal Code provided for a punishment of 1 to 4 years.
Now, the penalty for anyone who steals electrical or telephone cables, or any other material that affects the functioning of essential services, can range from 2 to 8 years.
The new legislation seeks to discourage this criminal practice that compromises the quality and continuity of fundamental services for society.
Receiving stolen cables also has more severe penalties
Another important point of Law 15.181 is the toughening of punishments for reception of stolen wires and cables.
Previously, the penalty for buying or selling stolen materials ranged from 1 to 4 years in prison.
Under the new law, this penalty can be doubled if the receiving involves power cables, telephone cables, or equipment used for data transmission or rail transportation.
This aims to weaken the black market that fuels cable theft and robbery.
Penalties for companies that use stolen materials
Law 15.181 also has a significant impact on member who contract public services, such as telecommunications, that may use stolen wires or cables.
These companies may be severely punished with fines, temporary suspension of activities and even exclusion from the market, if they are involved with equipment originating from crimes.
The law makes it clear that companies that use stolen materials to provide services to the population or the public sector can be considered clandestine.
This change aims to increase oversight and hold companies that fail to ensure the origin of their products accountable, strengthening the commitment to legality and ethics in business.
Executive vetoes and justifications
Although Law 15.181 was widely approved in Congress, the Executive Branch vetoed two points of the project.
The first vetoed device dealt with the suspension of services provided by companies affected by cable theft or robbery.
The veto was motivated by concerns that the measure could compromise the quality and safety of services by allowing companies to fail to comply with their regulatory obligations without adequate justification.
The second veto referred to the amendment of Law 9.613, from 1998, which deals with money laundering.
The original proposal increased the penalty for those who conceal the origin of assets obtained through crime.
The Executive understood that this change would weaken the legal tools already in place to combat money laundering in Brazil, and therefore decided to veto it.
Impact of Law 15.181 on infrastructure and the economy
The increased penalties for theft and robbery of power and telephone cables aim to protect Brazil's critical infrastructure, which has been the target of constant attacks by criminal groups.
The theft of these materials has generated million-dollar losses both for private companies and public bodies, in addition to directly affecting the population, which faces service failures of electricity and telephony.
In some regions, interruptions in energy supplies or communication services have caused disruptions to the population and businesses, negatively affecting the local economy.
The new legislation, therefore, seeks to mitigate these problems by increasing the severity of punishments for offenders and holding the companies involved more accountable.
Why is Law 15.181 important?
Law 15.181 represents a response to a growing problem in Brazil, which is the theft of cables and infrastructure equipment.
These crimes not only cause economic damage, but also compromise the safety and quality of life of the population by interrupting essential services.
The toughening of penalties for robbery, theft and receiving of cables is a measure that aims to discourage these crimes and combat organized gangs that engage in this type of illicit activity.
Furthermore, holding companies that use stolen materials accountable is a way to ensure that business activities in the telecommunications and energy sector are conducted ethically and legally, without contributing to the illegal cable and wire market.
A 15.181 Law is an important milestone in the fight against crimes involving theft and robbery of electrical and telephone cables in Brazil.
By increasing penalties, creating new punishments, and holding companies accountable, the legislation seeks to protect the country's infrastructure, guaranteeing essential services to the population, and combating criminal activities that directly affect the economy and social well-being.
Source: Senate
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