Minister of Justice announced that the Federal Police opened an investigation into possible crimes against the economy
The Minister of Justice and Public Security, said on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) that he will intensify supervision against a high “abusive” prices in the fuel market. He stated that an investigation was launched by the Federal Police to investigate possible crimes against consumers and the economy.
“The state Public Ministries, the entire Consumer Protection System, the ANP [Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis]the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Senacom, in order to curb and curb any abusive practice. […] This is a struggle, an effort to monitor the entire Brazilian society”said the minister.
On Tuesday (17th March) an inspection operation began in 9 States and the Federal District, in conjunction with Senacon and state and municipal Procons. The action affected 42 gas stations and a distributor in 22 cities.
“The fines provided for in the MP [Medida Provisória] 1,340, which the ANP can apply, and which may also be applied by partner bodies, range from R$50,000 to R$500 million. This will depend on the severity of the conduct and also the size of the potential offender.”stated the general director of the ANP, Artur Watt Neto.
The secretary of , Ricardo Morishita, said that he brought together more than 100 state and municipal Procons to organize the expansion of inspection actions in the fuel market.
The action will be concentrated in cities where significant increases in diesel and gasoline prices were recorded, based on data consolidated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The information covers around 19,000 gas stations in 459 Brazilian municipalities.
“Price freedom, as we know, is the rule, but it is not possible to confuse price freedom with abuse and excess. At a time like the one we are living in, when the planet is suffering restrictions in the supply and availability of oil, which directly impacts the lives of consumers, it is not possible to understand that this practice is correct, as it is an abusive practice”stated the secretary.
Diesel Package
On March 12, the president’s government (PT) took measures to address the impact of rising diesel prices in Brazil. The initiative includes reducing taxes and creating a fuel subsidy, with an estimated impact of R$30 billion on public accounts until December 31, 2026.
The measure was adopted after the rise in the price of oil on the international market, associated with the escalation of conflicts involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Diesel is considered strategic for the Brazilian economy because it influences the cost of transporting cargo and, consequently, the price of food and other products.
