‘It affects something around 200 gas stations, a franchise with almost 100 establishments, more than 60 motels that were used to launder money and 14 real estate developments,’ said the minister
The Minister of Finance, announced the creation of a police station aimed at the fight against the financial system, on the same day of Operation Spare, promoted by the Military Police and the Public Prosecutor of São Paulo, which investigates a criminal organization that launders money through gas stations and fintechs and explores gambling.
“It is the fourth operation that the revenue does in this major structuring of this department. In fact, we have a decision to turn into a IRS police station, which will therefore have people dedicated to deepening such investigations. A police station here, within the IRS,” said Haddad.
The IRS and partner agencies launched Operation Spare on Thursday, unfolding of the “Operation Operation Hidden”, held on August 28. The action aims one of the main operators of a criminal organization that has been operating for over two decades in the fuel market in the state of São Paulo, as well as people associated with it. Investigated are suspected of using posts, real estate developments, motels and franchise stores such as money laundering instruments and hiding of assets.
“So, we are in the wake of that operation triggered on August 28. This operation involved, in the federal level, the revenue, which is the partnership with Gaeco, which is the São Paulo prosecutor. It affects something around 200 gas stations, a franchise with almost 100 establishments, more than 60 motels that were used to launder money and 14 real estate developments,” said Haddad.
All with money, more or less, more than $ 4 billion in financial transactions over five years and payment virtually none of taxes, 0.1% of the movement. So this caught the attention of the IRS, the very low collection of this mountain of resources, ”explained the minister.
According to Haddad, since 2023 there is already a structured fraud core to combat organized crime and intersection between this type of crime and the real economy. “Money laundering often implies lawful activities precisely to launder money. But it is an artificial arm for money laundering to happen. So behind that apparently regular activity has an unlawful activity. And this greatly complicates the life of the Brazilian economy, because they are competition, actually affects competition, affects consumer life, affects the life of the tax, affects budgeting programs, affecting the budget. Federal, has huge implications, ”said the minister.
So this creation of the police station, within the revenue, will be very useful for this to be structured, regardless of government, is an important legacy for the future of the farm, he added. According to the IRS, 25 search and seizure warrants are being served in the cities of São Paulo (19), Santo André (2), Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. 64 Federal Revenue and 28 employees of the São Paulo Public Prosecution Service (MPSP) participate in the operation, through Gaeco, as well as representatives of the São Paulo State Finance and Planning Secretariat (SEFAZ/SP) and about 100 military police officers.
Learn more about the operation
The main target of the operation performed today is linked to an extensive network of gas stations used for money laundering and tax evasion. The structure was identified from the concentration of companies under the responsibility of a single service provider, which formally controlled about 400 posts – 200 being directly linked to the target and its associates.
The IRS identified at least 267 still -active posts, which moved more than R $ 4.5 billion between 2020 and 2024, but collected only R $ 4.5 million in federal taxes – the equivalent of 0.1% of the busy total, well below the average of the sector.
Administrators of posts who moved R $ 540 million in the same period were also identified. The group’s performance, however, was not restricted to the fuel sector. Through related people, the main target also operated franchise stores, motels and construction ventures.
*With information from Agência Brasil
Posted by Carol Santos
