Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Brazil Launches Nationwide Raids Targeting Alleged Fuel-Sector Laundering Network

Officials describe laundering via investment funds, fintechs, with alleged PCC links.

Military police gather in front of a building at Faria Lima Avenue, as Brazil's federal police and tax revenue service launched operations targeting money laundering and fraud schemes linked to organized crime in the fuel sector, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 28, 2025. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
Brazil's Minister of Justice Ricardo Lewandowski and Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad attend a press conference after Brazil's federal police and tax revenue service launched on Thursday operations targeting money laundering and fraud schemes linked to organized crime in the fuel sector, in Brasilia, Brazil August 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
Police raided Sao Paolo's Faria Lima Avenue, where many financial institutions are headquartered

Overview

  • Authorities executed roughly 350 search warrants across eight states and requested asset blocks exceeding 1 billion reais.
  • Officials reported seizing 1.2 billion reais in assets and said five people were arrested under preventive warrants.
  • Federal police unveiled twin operations Quasar and Tank, targeting schemes that allegedly moved more than 23 billion reais, with asset manager REAG named in court records and saying it is cooperating.
  • The revenue service traced over 10 billion reais in fuel imports, 52 billion reais in domestic sales, and 46 billion reais routed through fintechs from 2020 to 2024.
  • Prosecutors cited 40 investment funds worth 30 billion reais holding a port terminal, four ethanol plants and about 1,000 gas stations, and detailed adulterated fuel and irregular methanol imports used to mask proceeds.