Feds Do Their Duty in Brazil : Soccer: Search begins for tons of items bought in U.S. by World Cup champions.

The treasure hunt is on.

Federal agents are looking for the 17.4 tons of personal items bought by Brazil’s soccer team during the World Cup, cargo that was waived through Rio’s international airport last week to the chagrin of customs officials.

Lafredo Vieira Lopes, a federal judge, gave police the green light Thursday to search the homes of the 93 players, staff and guests of the team delegation that failed to pay $1 million in customs duties on excess luggage.

Agents started at the home of Ricardo Teixeira, president of the Confederation of Brazilian Football, who went over the $500 limit on personal items that can be brought in duty free by Brazilian nationals. Teixeira is the son-in-law of FIFA President Joao Havelange.

Teixeira refused to show airport customs officials in Rio his luggage and told players to boycott a scheduled ticker-tape parade there.

Moments later, airport officials said a call came from the presidential palace in Brasilia to let the baggage go uninspected.

When the feds came, however, Teixeira was apologetic.

“We never thought there would be a problem,” he said, after giving the federal police and tax inspectors a list of his luggage.

“At no time did we ask that our baggage not be inspected.”

Next came Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who told police he brought in $3,700 worth of items, including a color TV, personal computer and laser printer.

“It wasn’t that we didn’t want to pay duties, we just didn’t want to leave our baggage impounded at the airport,” he said.

One by one, the agents knocked on the doors of stars: Romario, Bebeto, Mazinho, Jorginho, Branco, Leonardo, and assistant coach Mario Zagalo. What did they find?

A doll house, and a baby stroller.

“My baggage looked big because I bought a doll house for my daughter. But I swear, I didn’t go over the $500 limit,” Mazinho said.