The Federal Police (PF) on Friday morning (28/11) launched Operation “Fake Road” targeting an alleged diversionary scheme in paving contracts signed by the National Department of Drought Control Works (Dnocs) and funded by parliamentary amendments.
This measure is being carried out jointly with the Controller General of the Union (CGU), whose technical work has identified serious irregularities in road works.
According to PF, cash-generating unit audits raised signs of over-billing, services only partially performed, or not even started, and fraudulent and nepotistic measurements of pre-selected companies.
The combination of signs led to suspicion of the formation of a criminal organization made up of public officials and businessmen.
Losses to federal coffers already exceed R$22 million, according to preliminary estimates.
Orders in three capitals
By order of the Federal Supreme Court, 11 search and seizure warrants were executed. These events occurred at nine addresses in Fortaleza (CE) and two in Natal (RN).
Legal measures include freezing assets and valuables, making property and vehicles unavailable, in addition to breaking the banking, tax, telephone and remote communications confidentiality of those being investigated.
Federal agents also conducted personal searches and vehicle searches to seize documents and devices related to the fraud.
About 50 police officers are participating in the operation.
An organized scheme to circumvent inspection
According to investigators, the group acted in a coordinated manner: public officials allowed companies that won contracts to submit unrealistic measurements, attesting to work that did not exist or was far from completion. In return, there will be undue financial benefits.
The scheme was revealed only after data from the cash generation unit was combined with field information, which indicated discrepancies between what was paid and what was actually implemented.