Operation investigates billion-dollar bribery scheme at the Port of Rio de Janeiro

The Federal Police (PF), the Federal Revenue Service (RFB) and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) began Operation Mare Liberum, which investigates a bribery scheme in the Port of Rio de Janeiro this Tuesday (28). The loss is estimated at half a billion reais to public coffers due to the irregular release of containers.

According to the bodies involved, this is the largest operation ever carried out by the Internal Revenue Service. Teams went out to execute 45 search and seizure warrants against importers, brokers and public servants.

Federal police officers, inspectors and prosecutors went to addresses in the capital and in the cities of Niterói, Nilópolis, Nova Friburgo and Vitória (ES). Among them are the customs offices of the Port of Rio and Galeão and the Revenue Superintendence in RJ.

The investigations began in 2022, motivated by internal control and reporting mechanisms, and expose the existence of a criminal organization made up of public servants, customs brokers and businesspeople.

Those investigated may be held liable for crimes such as corruption, criminal association, smuggling, embezzlement (importing or exporting goods permitted by law, without paying taxes due to customs) and money laundering, depending on the progress of the investigations.

More than 100 Federal Revenue employees and around 200 police officers participated in the investigations carried out in the two cities. The Revenue informed that it is structuring measures to maintain the fluidity of operations at the port, in addition to reviewing procedures carried out during the period investigated.

The court also ordered the dismissal of 17 tax auditors and 8 tax analysts from their positions, in addition to the seizure of up to R$102 million in assets of those involved. Nine freight forwarders were banned from carrying out activities at the Port of Rio.

A Revenue analyst was also arrested for carrying a weapon.

The investigation, which included the Internal Revenue Service and the Specialized Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) of the MPF, began with a complaint about a scheme between Porto Customs employees, importers and brokers to facilitate smuggling and smuggling, by offering an economic advantage.

The investigations indicated the clearance of containers without due inspection. Often, the goods released did not match the import declarations issued by the companies, causing the suppression of taxes and losses to the Treasury.

The investigations indicate different fronts of action, including releasing cargo with inconsistencies, favoring operations in the oil and gas sector and receiving amounts from port operators. Practices such as undue reduction of taxes, irregular reversal of penalties and targeted redistribution of processes were also highlighted.