A joint operation of the São Paulo Public Prosecution Service (MPSP), Federal Revenue and Security Forces fulfilled on Thursday morning (28) dozens of warrants against a billionaire money laundering and fraud scheme in the fuel sector. According to investigations, the criminal group is linked to the first command of the capital (CCP) and moved funds in the main financial center of the country, Avenida Faria Lima, in the west of the state capital.
Authorities investigate crimes such as tax fraud, fuel tampering, accounting forgery and threatening to industry entrepreneurs. The investigation points out that owners of posts were coerced to sell their establishments and, in some cases, did not receive the agreed payments.
Named “Operation Operation Hidden Carbon”, the offensive fulfills 14 arrest warrants and 42 search and seizure, as well as determining the blockade of 41 individuals and legal entities. The decision that authorized the action highlights the participation of companies such as Copape and Aster, distributors of fuel used for structured tax fraud, capital washing and falsification of documents.
According to the court, the criminal organization operates throughout the chain of the sector, from plants and ports to carriers, conveniences and bakeries that traded adulterated fuel. This network covered different states and moved resources on a large scale.
Companies investigated
The list of targets includes fuel companies, chemical industries, carriers and logistics companies. Among them are:
- Biofuel Alliance Eireli
- EIRELI BRAZIL CHEMICAL ARARAS
- BRASLIMP CHEMICAL INDUSTRY AND TRADE IN GENERAL LTDA.
- DIAMOND CHEMICAL SOLVENTES LTDA.
- GPC Chemistry S/A
- Cosmetics Industry Vale Petro Ltda.
- DSW LOGISTICS IN GENERAL LTDA.
- IPÊ BIOCOMBUSTIVIVES LTDA.
- LOG FUEL TRANSPORTES LTDA.
- MALTA ROAD TRANSPORTES
- Mannabio Importação e Exportação Ltda.
- Quantiq Distribuidora Ltda.
- Oreonn Industry and Trade of Vegetable and Chemical Oils Ltda.
- Chemistry Araguaya Indústria e Comércio Ltda.
- CHEMICOLOR INDUSTRY AND TRADE IN GENERAL LTDA.
- ROYAL CHEMICAL LTDA.
- Cattalini Maritime Terminals SA
Fintechs involved
The findings also identified the use of fintechs to mask financial transactions. BK Bank and Bankrow are suspected of operating accounts known as “pockets”, a mechanism that makes traceability difficult and dribbles the system to combat money laundering.
This Thursday, agents served warrants at the headquarters of BK Bank, located on Avenida Faria Lima. In addition, the investigation detected R $ 30 billion in investment funds linked to the group, a strategy used to shield illicit assets.
