Action is coordinated by the Citizen Protection Police Department (DPPC); Investigations indicate that the establishments were linked to a criminal faction responsible for adulterating fuel and laundering money
Operation “Octane” was launched this Tuesday (21) against a fuel adulteration scheme on the coast and in the interior of the state. The action is coordinated by the Citizen Protection Police Department (DPPC) and carries out six search and seizure warrants at posts suspected of being linked to organized crime.
Investigations indicate that the establishments were linked to a criminal faction responsible for adulterating fuel and laundering money. The targets of the operation are located in the cities of Santos and Praia Grande, on the coast of São Paulo, and in Araraquara, in the interior.
According to the Civil Police, the operation is an offshoot of “Hidden Carbon”, launched in August, which investigated a billion-dollar corruption and fraud scheme in the fuel sector. Among the current targets, there is a post linked to family members of one of the main suspects in the previous action. During inspections, one of the stations inspected already showed adulterated fuel and fraudulent fuel pumps — which indicated a greater volume than that actually delivered to the vehicles. The operation was supported by the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the Institute of Weights and Measures (Ipen). The police continue to analyze the seized material and have not confirmed arrests so far.
