247 - The Federal Highway Police (PRF) stopped a water tanker truck and uncovered a scheme involving the criminal faction Primeiro Comando da Capital, the fuel sector, and Faria Lima, the financial center of São Paulo. Fuel companies linked to the PCC imported R$10 billion worth of naphtha, hydrocarbons, and diesel using the faction's illegal funds. These companies evaded taxes totaling R$8.67 billion and also adulterated fuel distributed at gas stations between 2020 and 2024.
The Federal Revenue Service reported that around 1,000 gas stations linked to the group moved R$52 billion between 2020 and 2024. According to the São Paulo Court of Justice, “the Federal Police estimated that more than 10 million liters of methanol were diverted for illegal use at gas stations, with evidence of participation and approval by fuel distributors.”
According to information published this Thursday by journalists Renan Porto, Valentina Moreira and Artur Rodrigues, in Metrópoles, PRF agents approached the driver of the vehicle Renan Diego Inocência da Silva transporting methanol, on May 14, 2023, in the municipality of Guarulhos (SP). The substance, used in the chemical sector for biodiesel production, was being diverted for fuel adulteration.
Approximately 1,400 agents are executing arrest and search and seizure warrants in seven states this Thursday. More than 350 targets, including individuals and legal entities, are suspected of committing crimes against the economic order, money laundering, fuel adulteration, tax fraud, environmental crimes, and fraud. At least six people were arrested.
The methanol was loaded at the Paranaguá maritime terminal in Paraná and destined for tax purposes at chemical companies in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso. In practice, it was delivered directly to gas stations in Greater São Paulo, where the fuel was processed. In some cases, the added methanol represented up to 50% of the gasoline sold.
Instead of traveling along BR-163, which connects Paraná to Mato Grosso, the co-opted drivers used the Régis Bittencourt Highway and unloaded the methanol at the Bixiga Gas Station, in the central region of São Paulo.
A company issued hundreds of"weighing tickets" with the volume of methanol that would theoretically be delivered to Mato Grosso. The goal was to simulate the legality of the route and allow the import of the product.
Arrest, search and seizure warrants are being served in eight states: São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Paraná, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.
