Os “extravios que tão continuados têm sido...”: contrabando e práticas comerciais ilícitas nas atividades do contratador João Rodrigues de Macedo

This article analyzes the smuggling in the eighteenth century as depicted in the correspondence of the contratador João Rodrigues de Macedo sent to his subordinates. It will be discussed the practices of smuggling in Minas Gerais and the several measures implemented by Portugal to prevent it, as well as the personal relationships of João Macedo in the context of the tolerated illicit trade and the condemned illegal commerce.This article analyzes the smuggling in the eighteenth century as depicted in the correspondence of the contratador João Rodrigues de Macedo sent to his subordinates. It will be discussed the practices of smuggling in Minas Gerais and the several measures implemented by Portugal to prevent it, as well as the personal relationships of João Macedo in the context of the tolerated illicit trade and the condemned illegal commerce.O artigo tem por objetivo analisar o contrabando no século XVIII, a partir das correspondências do contratador João Rodrigues de Macedo com seus auxiliares arrecadadores. Di scutem-se o contrabando em Minas Gerais e as várias medidas implementadas pela metrópole para impedi-lo, assim como as relações pessoais do contratador Macedo, perante o comércio ilícito tolerado e o comércio ilegal sujeito à condenação