Brazil investigating industrial espionage

SAO PAULO, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- The theft of laptops and computer hard drives belonging to Brazilian oil company Petrobras has been labeled industrial espionage, it was reported Thursday.

The four laptops and two hard drives, containing confidential information about Petrobras' recent discovery of a massive offshore gas field, went missing in late January while being transported from an offshore rig to company offices, BBC reported. Authorities say it was no common theft of computer equipment but a heist by someone wanting what Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a "state secret," the British network said.

The Jupiter gas field off the coast near Rio de Janeiro is considered so significant it could make Brazil self-sufficient in natural gas, the BBC said.

Police questioned at least 17 people who had contact with the information, or who were involved in its transportation.