A Operation Hidden Flowlaunched this Thursday (28) as a result of , revealed the size of financial movements do new PCC money laundering scheme (First Command of the Capital) in fuel sector with the use of fintechs and a new component: and diesel.
Investigations indicate that, between 2022 and 2024, a single payment institution received deposits of more than R$1 billion in cash. According to the Federal Revenue, the procedure is considered “strange” and served as a layer to hide the illicit origin of the resources.
In the action against the faction’s scheme, 59 search and seizure warrants were executed in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul.
X-ray of the PCC scheme
According to researchers, between 2022 and 2025, six new fintechs identified as PCC “parallel banks” moved more than R$26 billion.
Of the total, around R$8 billion was reported via e-Financeira by just three of the institutions during 2025.
In addition to the traditional banking system, the group used crypto assets in transactions totaling at least R$365 million with companies suspected of money laundering.
In the nucleus facing the naphtha diversionthe scheme had four investment funds. The “efficiency” of the scheme in injecting illicit capital meant that the funds’ assets jumped to R$205 million, what did it mean an equity increase of more than 200% in just over a year.
As the group simulated an industrial operation to hide the sale of fuel, the State failed to collect the taxes due. Just on the NAFTA front, it is estimated that public coffers lost R$200 million in just two years.
Investigations
According to the agency, the objective of the new operation is advance in the fight against fraud, evasion and money laundering schemes in the sector. The main focuses this morning (28) are six more fintechs discovered and fuel adulteration using naphtha (a type of solvent).
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Investigations indicate that the companies acted as PCC parallel banks.
See how the scheme below worked:
These banks were part of a powerful financial nucleus, being used to internal financial compensations between various distributors and gas stations, between andcompanies and investment funds managed by the criminal organization, employee payments and payments for personal expenses and investments of the main operators.
The MP also indicated that there is a group involved in the diversion of petrochemical naphtha to terminals and gas stations. The work, carried out in conjunction with the ANP, revealed a robust structure of falsehoods, with simulated sales of solvents to shell companies.
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According to the complaint, there was a structure created for the serial opening of companies in the most diverse states in Brazil. The investigations show that those accused used relatives, people in socially vulnerable situations and even prisoners to create legal entities that supposedly acquired solvents. In practice, they were diverted to Greater São Paulo.
In the identified nucleus, Gaeco’s investigation with the Federal Revenue Service found that the same asset hiding mechanisms are used as in the other scheme. In addition to payment institutions, financial transactions involved investment funds to conceal the real beneficiaries of the PCC’s business.
Target companies
- Ceopag Payment Institution, Ceopar, Fundopay SA and XBR Participações
- America Payment S.A
- Sispay Payment Institution, Vpay Payment Institution and May Servex Negócios Imobiliários
- Smart Solutions Payment Institution and Smart Safe Leasing and Data Processing
- YAW Payment Institution SA
- Ello Resource Manager Ltda
A CNN Brazil tries to locate company representatives in search of positions. The space is open for demonstrations.
