Outstanding

Florida Lines Global Containers (Conbrazil group)

A buyer that had paid before, then 29 containers on credit: USD 53,600 unpaid for more than a year. Blacklisted by MG-Atlantic.

Published 9 October 2026 · Updated 9 October 2026

As of 9 October 2026, Florida Lines Global Containers (Conbrazil group), registered in Panama, has not paid invoices totalling US$53,600 for gate-buy sale (delivered to the buyer's depot), according to documents reviewed by MG-Atlantic SA.

MG-Atlantic SA is a creditor in this case.

Em junho de 2025, a MG-Atlantic SA entregou 29 contêineres na Costa Rica e no México à Florida Lines Global Containers, empresa do grupo Conbrazil representada por Rafael Calefi. O comprador havia pago pedidos anteriores. Desta vez pagou USD 6.000 de USD 59.600, propôs um plano de pagamento, não assinou o acordo e deixou de responder. Restam USD 53.600, mais juros. A MG-Atlantic incluiu o grupo em sua lista negra.

Key facts

• Amount outstanding: US$53,600
• Unpaid since July 2025
• Transaction type(s): gate-buy sale (delivered to the buyer's depot)
• Containers: 29 containers delivered in June 2025: 14 × 20DC (6 cargo-worthy, 8 new) at Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, and 15 × 40HC (4 cargo-worthy, 7 new, 4 IICL) at Manzanillo, Mexico
• Creditors reporting: 1

Gate-buy sale: containers delivered into the buyer's depot before payment.

Company identification

• Legal name: Florida Lines Global Containers (Conbrazil group)
• Country / city: Panama / Panama City
• Address: Calle 50, Edificio Plaza Credicorp Bank, piso 31, Ciudad de Panamá, Panama

Persons

• RC Rafael Donizetti Calefi — Representative of Florida Lines Global Containers and the Conbrazil group

Summary

In June 2025, MG-Atlantic SA delivered 29 containers in Costa Rica and Mexico to Florida Lines Global Containers, a company of the Conbrazil group represented by Rafael Calefi. The buyer had paid for earlier orders. This time it paid USD 6,000 of USD 59,600, proposed a payment plan through Brazilian counsel, never signed the settlement agreement drafted on that basis, and stopped responding. USD 53,600 remains unpaid, plus contractual interest.

Details

At a glance

• 29 containers delivered in June 2025: 14 × 20DC at Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, and 15 × 40HC at Manzanillo, Mexico, into depots chosen by the buyer.
• Invoiced on 4 July 2025 to Florida Lines Global Containers: USD 59,600. Paid: USD 6,000, on 19 August 2025.
• USD 53,600 is still unpaid, plus contractual interest of 2% per month.
• The buyer had paid for earlier orders, which is why MG-Atlantic extended credit.
• In early 2026, through MG-Atlantic's lawyers in Brazil, the buyer proposed a payment plan. The settlement agreement drafted on that basis was never signed, and no instalment was ever paid.
• A formal demand sent by registered mail in June 2026 could not be delivered. MG-Atlantic has blacklisted the company and the group.

This case concerns Florida Lines Global Containers, invoiced at Calle 50, Edificio Plaza Credicorp Bank, Panama City, and the companies of the Conbrazil group through which its payments and negotiations were made: Conbrazil International Corporation (Boca Raton, Florida, United States, EIN 36-4892954) and Conbrazil Terminais de Contêineres e Logística Ltda. (Limeira, São Paulo, Brazil, CNPJ 13.372.215/0001-85). It does not concern other companies with similar names.

2024 to May 2025: a buyer that paid

MG-Atlantic's relationship with Rafael Calefi began in June 2024, with 35 × 20' containers sold at the depot in Salvador, Brazil. That order was paid.

In April and May 2025, the buyer agreed to take containers arriving in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, and asked for more in Central America. For each lot, it sent the depot details and the release reference to use. Eight 40HC containers were delivered at Caucedo, Dominican Republic, in mid-May 2025 and invoiced to Florida Lines Global Containers for USD 13,200.

That invoice was paid on 28 July 2025, more than seven weeks late, by bank transfer from Conbrazil International Corporation. A paying customer, slow but reliable: that was MG-Atlantic's assessment when it released the next containers.

June 2025: 29 more containers on the strength of a promise

In May and June 2025, the buyer agreed prices for two more lots:

• 14 × 20DC at Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, prices agreed on 5 May;
• 15 × 40HC at Manzanillo, Mexico, prices agreed after negotiation.

On 12 June, the Caucedo invoice was still unpaid. MG-Atlantic wrote that it could not release the Caldera containers without news of that payment. The next day, the buyer answered:

"Pago estan en processo Hoy ok?"
(Payment is in process today, OK?)

The Caldera containers were released. Between 17 and 28 June 2025, all 29 containers of the two lots were delivered into the depots the buyer had designated in Costa Rica and Mexico. On 26 June, asked again about payment, Rafael Calefi wrote:

"Estamos por recibir de cliente. No te preocupes, son de extrema confianza. No hay problema."
(We are about to receive from our client. Don't worry, they are extremely trustworthy. No problem.)

July to November 2025: one payment, then silence

On 4 July 2025, MG-Atlantic issued two invoices to Florida Lines Global Containers, payable at sight, with late-payment interest of 2% per month stated on each:

• MGC-323: 14 × 20DC at Puerto Caldera, USD 23,800;
• MGC-394: 15 × 40HC at Manzanillo, USD 35,800.

Total: USD 59,600.

Reminders followed in July, August, September, October and November, by e-mail and WhatsApp. On 19 August, the buyer sent proof of a USD 6,000 payment. Nothing else arrived. A payment plan was requested in writing by 22 September 2025. None was sent.

On 17 November, Rafael Calefi wrote that he was working on payment plans and wanted to buy again immediately, adding:

"todavia tengo aun que limpiar nuestra deuda"
(I still have to clear our debt)

MG-Atlantic replied two days later with two options: a schedule of fixed payments every 15 days, or settlement in part with containers in Brazil. There was no answer.

December 2025: final notice and Brazilian counsel

On 30 December 2025, MG-Atlantic sent a final formal notice: payment in full within seven days, failing which the file would go to its lawyers.

Since the group operates from Brazil, MG-Atlantic instructed a Brazilian law firm specialised in debt recovery. It received a power of attorney in January 2026. The firm first mapped the group's corporate structure, then contacted Rafael Calefi directly.

January to March 2026: a payment plan proposed, a settlement never signed

At a meeting with MG-Atlantic's lawyers on 29 January 2026, Rafael Calefi was receptive. He said the group was going through difficulties and a consolidation in Brazil, including talks with foreign investors. He asked for time to present a proposal and said he wished to do business with MG-Atlantic again.

In February, he proposed through the lawyers to pay in four instalments: USD 10,000, then USD 20,000, then USD 15,000, then the balance.

On that basis, counsel drafted an acknowledgment of debt and payment schedule:

• updated debt of USD 62,800.94 as of 6 March 2026, including the 2% monthly interest stated on the invoices, and after deduction of the USD 6,000 payment;
• four instalments, as he had proposed;
• the three companies jointly liable, with Rafael Calefi signing for all of them;
• his personal guarantee.

MG-Atlantic approved the agreement on 10 March. It was sent to Rafael Calefi on 13 March, with a deadline of 18 March to sign or request changes and 20 March for the first payment.

He confirmed receipt and his interest in settling the debt. He did not sign, did not request a single change, and paid nothing. Further contacts in March and April went unanswered.

June to August 2026: a formal demand that could not be delivered

In June 2026, MG-Atlantic's lawyers served a formal extrajudicial demand by registered mail, with 48 hours to pay. On 31 August, the Brazilian postal service reported that it had been unable to deliver it.

Counsel then closed the amicable phase. In its assessment, the correspondence and negotiations gathered during that phase document both the debt and the connection between the companies involved, and provide sufficient grounds for a collection claim in Brazil.

Where the case stands

MG-Atlantic no longer expects voluntary payment. Legal proceedings in Brazil are under assessment with counsel.

Blacklisted by MG-Atlantic

MG-Atlantic has blacklisted Florida Lines Global Containers, Conbrazil International Corporation, Conbrazil Terminais de Contêineres e Logística Ltda. and Rafael Calefi. We will not sell, lease or release containers to them.

We advise container sellers, lessors, depots and transport providers to deal with them only against full payment in advance.

Is Florida Lines or Conbrazil a scam?

Companies search for "Conbrazil scam", "Florida Lines fraude" or "Conbrazil golpe" before trading with the group. MG-Atlantic does not issue legal findings: only a court can establish fraud. What we can document is what happened to us:

• the buyer paid for earlier orders, then took delivery of 29 containers on credit;
• payment was announced as "in process" to obtain the release of the containers;
• one payment of USD 6,000 followed, out of USD 59,600;
• the buyer acknowledged the debt in writing and proposed its own payment plan;
• it never signed the agreement drafted on that plan, and stopped responding.

Judge for yourself. Our decision is made: the group is on MG-Atlantic's blacklist.

How to protect yourself when selling containers in Latin America

Before releasing containers on credit, in Brazil, Central America or anywhere else:

• a good payment history is not a guarantee: set a credit limit and do not release the next lot while the previous invoice is unpaid;
• know which legal entity you invoice, and which entity actually pays you; when they differ, ask why;
• ask for full payment, or at least a deposit, before gate-out or delivery;
• keep title to the containers until full payment, in writing;
• a promise that payment is "in process" is not a payment: wait for the funds, or a bank confirmation (SWIFT), before releasing;
• search the buyer's name with "scam", "fraude", "golpe", "blacklist" and "unpaid" before the first deal.

Amount claimed

As of 7 October 2026:

• principal: USD 53,600.00, balance of invoices MGC-323 (USD 23,800) and MGC-394 (USD 35,800) of 4 July 2025, after the USD 6,000 payment of 19 August 2025;
• updated debt calculated by counsel with the contractual interest of 2% per month: USD 62,800.94 as of 6 March 2026;
• interest continues to accrue at 2% per month on the unpaid balance;
• recovery and legal costs are claimed in addition.

Owed money by Florida Lines or Conbrazil?

If Florida Lines Global Containers, a Conbrazil company or Rafael Calefi owe your company money for containers, transport, storage or any other service, use the creditor form on this page. Claims can be combined and legal costs shared. Creditor names are never published.

For Florida Lines and Conbrazil

This case will be marked "Resolved" once MG-Atlantic SA has received the full amount: principal, interest and recovery costs. The page will remain online with that status. Payment instructions: info@mg-atlantic.com.

Actions taken

• Payment reminders sent
• Formal notice sent
• Lawyer engaged
• Negotiation meetings with the debtor
• Payment plan accepted (not honoured)
• Settlement agreement drafted (never signed)
• Registered demand (undeliverable)
• Legal proceedings under assessment

Documents reviewed by MG-Atlantic

• Correspondence
• Price confirmation and credit terms
• Drop-off order
• Proof of delivery
• Invoice(s)
• Bank transfer confirmation
• Formal notice or lawyer letter
• Settlement agreement drafted by counsel
• Reports from counsel

Timeline

• 14 June 2024 — First order: 35 × 20' containers sold at the depot in Salvador, Brazil. Paid.
• 25 April 2025 — The buyer sends depot details and release reference for containers at Caucedo, Dominican Republic.
• 15 May 2025 — 8 × 40HC delivered at Caucedo. Invoiced on 5 June to Florida Lines Global Containers, USD 13,200, payable at sight.
• 5 June 2025 — Prices agreed for 15 × 40HC at Manzanillo, Mexico. Prices for 14 × 20DC at Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, agreed in May.
• 13 June 2025 — Asked about the unpaid Caucedo invoice before further releases, the buyer answers that payment is "in process today".
• 28 June 2025 — All 29 containers delivered into the buyer's depots at Puerto Caldera and Manzanillo (from 17 June).
• 4 July 2025 — Invoices MGC-323 (USD 23,800) and MGC-394 (USD 35,800), payable at sight, 2% monthly late interest.
• 28 July 2025 — Caucedo invoice paid, seven weeks late, by Conbrazil International Corporation.
• 19 August 2025 — USD 6,000 received on invoices MGC-323 and MGC-394. No further payment.
• 15 September 2025 — Written request for a payment plan by 22 September. None received.
• 17 November 2025 — Rafael Calefi writes that he still has to "clear our debt" and wants to buy again.
• 19 November 2025 — MG-Atlantic offers a 15-day payment schedule or settlement with containers in Brazil. No answer.
• 30 December 2025 — Final formal notice: full payment within seven days.
• 9 January 2026 — Brazilian counsel instructed under a power of attorney.
• 29 January 2026 — Meeting with counsel. The debtor cites difficulties and asks for time to propose a settlement.
• 19 February 2026 — The debtor proposes four instalments: USD 10,000, USD 20,000, USD 15,000, then the balance.
• 13 March 2026 — Settlement agreement sent: USD 62,800.94, four instalments, three companies jointly liable, personal guarantee. Receipt confirmed. Never signed, nothing paid.
• 10 April 2026 — Further contact by counsel. No answer.
• 22 June 2026 — Counsel reports a formal extrajudicial demand sent by registered mail, 48 hours to pay.
• 31 August 2026 — Postal service unable to deliver the demand. Amicable phase closed by counsel.
• 7 October 2026 — USD 6,000 recovered, USD 53,600 principal outstanding. Legal proceedings in Brazil under assessment. Group blacklisted by MG-Atlantic.

This notice is based on documents reviewed by MG-Atlantic SA. Last reviewed 9 October 2026.

All payment defaults