In just one year, Wesley Aragão Martins, the organisation’s Citizen Relations Department Coordinator, recently promoted by Alternative President of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), has signed 53 Technical Cooperation Agreements (ACTs) with Maranhão fishermen’s unions and colonies who act as intermediaries in defense insurance grants, a benefit paid to artisanal fishermen during the period when fishing for certain species is prohibited.
These agreements came under the scrutiny of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) after a significant increase in the number of benefits granted to fishermen in Maranhão, the state where Wesley Martins lives. (featured image) He was the Executive Director of INSS. Data obtained by Capitals They show that between 2023 and 2024, the number of defense insurance beneficiaries in that state rose by 130,000, while other units in the union showed little or no growth. There is suspicion of fraud in granting the benefit.
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The agreements were signed with entities directly linked to the associations targeted by the Federal Police and the Anti-Corruption Unit in Operation No Discount, which was launched in April this year to investigate a billion-dollar scheme for undeserved pension deductions uncovered. Capitals In the INSS Farra Report Series. They are also ahead of these regional political entities that were candidates in the 2024 municipal elections.
Wesley Martins was the Executive Director of the INSS Supervisory Authority in São Luís (MA) and was dismissed from his position after the firing of Sem Desconto by INSS President Gilberto Waller, who took over the leadership of the authority after the PF operation. During Waller’s leave last week, Replacement President Leah Bracey, INSS’ IT director, appointed Martinez to the new position. He is the brother of the São Luis Councilor in Podemos and strongly encourages the granting of protection insurance to fishermen.
He was appointed amid a series of administrative actions taken by Leah Bracey that did not pass through Waller. These actions deepened the institute’s president’s annoyance with the Minister of Social Security, Léni Queiroz, as described in Tásio Laurent’s column. In recent weeks, the secretary has empowered a replacement leader, and Waller’s continued leadership of the institute is considered uncertain behind the scenes at the department.
Communications with INSS Farra entities
The terms of the INSS agreements with Maranhão fishing entities targeted by the CGU stipulate that these colonies and associations are linked to the National Confederation of Rural Workers and Family Farmers (Contag), the National Confederation of Family Farmers and Rural Family Entrepreneurs (Conafer) and the Federation of Fishermen’s Colonies of the State of Maranhão (Fecopema).
The first two are suspected of involvement in fraud involving unjustified reductions in association fees for retirees and money laundering by the Federal Police. The third has state representative Edson Araujo (PSB-MA) as president, which was shown in a report from the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf) to have received R$5.6 million from the same entity, which also received R$400,000 from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Confederation (CBPA). Araujo is vice president of the CBPA.
Other fishing entities also have political connections. John Lennon Mineiro da Silva, head of the fishermen’s colony in the municipality of Miranda do Norte, ran for city councilor as “John Lennon of Colonia”, for the PSDB. Lucilandia da Colonia, candidate for the position of Anajatuba Councilor for the Financial Development Bank, is the head of the z-31 fishermen’s colony in the municipality. She also signed the agreement with Wesley Martinez.
Fecopema president and vice president of the CBPA, with whom many of these entities are openly linked, state Rep. Edson Araujo (PSB) starred in a recent episode of INSS’s CPMI. He sent threatening letters to federal Rep. Duarte Jr. (PSB), vice chairman of the commission investigating union discount fraud.
Duarte said he received messages from Araujo via WhatsApp. “A clown. He wants to appear. The clown’s place is in the circus.” Then he added: “And we still meet.” Duarte then asked: “Are you threatening me?” Araujo replied: “I am. Why?” The case was referred to the legislative police.
Required by CapitalsINSS did not comment. The space remains open.
The Ministry of Social Security stated, in a note, that it “does not comment on speculation” and that “appointments within the scope of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), an agency linked to the Ministry, follow technical standards and strictly adhere to legal and administrative procedures.”
“The Secretary of State for Social Security is responsible for supervising and coordinating the policies and guidelines of the Social Security System, respecting the administrative independence of the INSS to manage its internal structures. The Ministry (the Ministry) is focusing its efforts on repaying more than R$2.5 billion to R$3.7 million to 3.7 million pensioners and pensioners who were victims of unjustified discounts and on accelerating the analysis of applications on the waiting list for benefits, ensuring the full performance and efficiency of services provided to the population,” he said. Vol.
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