This Tuesday (9), the Federal Police launched Operation Phantom Route to deepen the investigation into an alleged scheme of fraud in tenders and diversion of federal public resources in vehicle rental contracts and execution of works in municipalities in Ceará. The evidence of fraud involves municipal departments in Jaguaretama, Acopiara, Abaiara, Iracema and Jaguaribe.
O Estadão requested a statement from the aforementioned city halls. The space is open for manifestation.
The Federal Police executed eleven search and seizure warrants issued by the 18th Federal Court. The orders were also executed in Brejo Santo, whose city hall is not the target of the investigation.
The investigation began in 2025, following a communication from the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf). According to the PF, the agency identified that, between 2017 and 2023, companies without a compatible logistical and operational structure moved amounts above their financial capacity, participated in public tenders, received around R$29 million from public bodies and passed on part of the resources to public servants.
According to the PF, the objective of Operation Rota Fantasma is to seize documents and electronic equipment that help identify the participation of each suspect in the scheme and track the destination of federal public resources transferred to the investigated municipalities.
Federal police officers seek to identify possible diversion and appropriation of public resources by members of municipal departments and bidding committees.
