PCC used vulnerable people in a fuel scheme
One of the objectives of Operation Fluxo Oculto, launched by the MPSP (Public Ministry of São Paulo) on the morning of this Thursday (28), is to investigate the existence of a nucleus that used relatives, people in socially vulnerable situations and even prisoners to open shell companies.
The investigation, which is an offshoot of Operation Hidden Carbon, investigates the involvement of the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) in the fuel market.
The operation carries out 59 search and seizure warrants, in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul.
Operation targets new PCC scheme in the fuel sector | CNN NEW DAY
The use of "oranges"
According to investigations, shell companies were set up in the name of these vulnerable people to simulate the purchase of petrochemical naphtha.
The movement involved the diversion of the material and its industrial destination. Contrary to what was stated, the solvent was intended for stations and terminals in Greater São Paulo to adulterate fuels.
The organization took advantage of tax advantages from naphtha to generate a loss of R$200 million in evaded taxes in just two years.
See: how the PCC's "criminal ecosystem" works in the fuel market?
Hidden Carbon: MPSP rejects "Beto Louco" plea bargain for omissions | CNN PRIME TIME
Role of fintechs and money laundering
Profits from fraud were laundered through six fintechs that operated as "shadow banks", moving R$26 billion between 2022 and 2025.
Read also: See how the PCC's billion-dollar scheme worked in the fuel sector
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Operation Spare carries out 25 search and seizure warrants, one of which is on Avenida Paulista. Orders are fulfilled in the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, Barueri, Bertioga, Campos do Jordão and Osasco. - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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Money laundering scheme - Disclosure/Federal Revenue
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The scheme used pocket accounts and cash deposits to hide the final destination of those who received the money, which was also sent to investment funds, which appreciated by 200% in just over a year.
The mechanism used so-called "pocket accounts", which centralized and dispersed illicit resources to make it difficult for authorities to track them and hide the final beneficiaries.
According to the Federal Revenue, there were records of cash deposits exceeding R$1 billion in a single institution, an unusual practice for the nature of these companies.
Source: CNN