A criminal group moved about R $ 52 billionbetween 2020 and 2024, by middle of approximately 1,000 gas stations in ten Brazilian states. The billionaire scheme of tax evasion, fuel tampering and money laundering is the target of Operation Hidden Carbonthis Thursday (28).
As, from import to final sale, using hundreds of companies to conceal the origin of money.
Part of the funds was hidden in investment funds and fintechs, and one of these institutions worked as a “parallel bank” of the group, moving $ 46 billion alone.
The operation served search and seizure warrants in 350 addresses of individuals and companies in eight states, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso.
The Attorney General of the National Treasury blocked more than R $ 1 billion in property, such as real estate and vehicles, to ensure the payment of tax credits that, so far, already total R $ 8.67 billion.
In addition to evasion and tampering, fraud included the use of methanol in gasoline and the simulation of transactions in gas stations. Convenience stores were also used to , receiving values in kind or by cardboards.
In some cases, establishments without any activity received more than $ 2 billion in simulated invoices.
The operation, which involves the IRS, Public Prosecution Service, Federal Police and several other institutions, has the name “hidden carbon” in reference to the chemical element of gasoline and how the scheme hid illicit resources in the fuel chain.
