The Federal Police (PF) launched this Tuesday, 5th, the fourth phase of Operation Unha e Carne, which investigates the activities of a criminal organization suspected of defrauding contracts for the purchase of materials and provision of services, including renovation works, within the scope of the Education Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro. One of the targets of arrest is state deputy Thiago Rangel (Avante).
The report asked for a statement from the parliamentarian. The space is open.
Federal agents carried out seven arrest warrants and 23 search and seizure warrants this morning in the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Miracema and Bom Jesus do Itabapoana. The orders were issued by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
The investigation uncovered a possible scheme for directing hiring carried out by state schools to previously selected companies linked to organized crime.
According to the PF investigation, part of the diverted public resources was channeled into accounts linked to a network of gas stations controlled by the criminal group. In this environment, money was incorporated into the financial flow of establishments, being combined with legitimate revenues to hide its origin.
During Operation Unha e Carne, Rodrigo Bacellar, former president of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj), was arrested. He was detained in the first phase, in December 2025, and again in March 2026 by order of the STF, on suspicion of leaking confidential information in favor of Comando Vermelho.
Continues after advertising
Macário Ramos Júdice Neto, judge of the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region (TRF-2), was also arrested in the second phase of the operation, in December 2025, on suspicion of passing on data from Operation Zargun, which investigated the former deputy known as “TH Joias”, Diego Raimundo dos Santos.
The Unha e Carne phases are part of the Mission Redentor II Task Force, which “aims to ensure the uniform and coordinated action of the Federal Police in the production of intelligence and repression of the main criminal groups in the State of Rio de Janeiro, with a primary focus on financial suffocation and the rupture of their connections with public agents”, according to the corporation.
Washing with gas stations
In October 2024, Rangel was the target of Operation Posto de Midas, by the Federal Police, on suspicion of rigging bids and laundering money through a network of gas stations.
According to the PF, the Federal Revenue Service and the Public Ministry of Rio, the parliamentarian led a scheme that dispensed with tenders to favor the companies themselves. The contracts, according to investigators, were signed at an overprice and used to divert public resources, which were then hidden through the financial transactions of the gas station network.
According to the investigation, Rangel’s declared assets jumped from R$224,000 to R$1.9 million at the time. The corporation pointed out in 2024 that he maintained a network of 18 gas stations, in addition to 12 companies identified in the investigation.
Before joining the Rio Assembly, Rangel was elected councilor in 2020, in Campos dos Goytacazes. He also held positions at the Institute of Weights and Measures (Ipem-RJ) and at the Department of Road Transport of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Detro-RJ).
Continues after advertising
