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Civil Police Dismantles Illegal Operation for Oil Theft and Tax Invoice Forgery in Bahia, With Warrants Executed in Four Cities and Materials Seized for Investigation.
The oil sector has come back to the forefront after the Civil Police of Bahia launched the Operation Black Gold, carried out this Wednesday (19). The offensive aimed to dismantle a scheme of qualified theft and tax fraud involving the transportation of crude oil.
During the operation, teams executed six search and seizure warrants in Salvador, Camaçari, Candeias, and Feira de Santana, tightening the clampdown on clandestine activities in the fuel sector.
Investigations Advance After Seizures of Documents, Electronics, and Suspicious Invoices
In Feira de Santana, where the operation had two fronts, agents focused their efforts on a residence and a business in the Subaé neighborhood. At the commercial establishment, irregularities were identified in the issuance of invoices linked to the transportation of crude oil.
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To deepen the investigations, cell phones, electronic equipment, and various documents were seized. All the material will undergo technical analysis, a measure deemed essential to map out the functioning of the scheme.
Shortly after, during diligences in the region, the team received a report of suspicious activities at a neighboring company also associated with the investigated individual. Upon checking the location, the police found two trucks unloading crude oil, reinforcing the suspicion of irregularities in the transportation chain.
An initial assessment conducted by the State Department of Finance pointed to inconsistencies in the invoices presented by the responsible parties. The information recorded was incompatible with the type of product transported and the reported destination, which heightened the alert about the possible practice of tax fraud.
Samples of Oil Will Be Analyzed While Suspects Remain Detained
To confirm the origin of the seized material, a state-owned company in the oil sector was called in and collected samples of the oil transported in the trucks. The goal is to submit the product for forensic examination, determining its provenance and checking if it was diverted from pipelines or production units.
The two individuals responsible for the transportation were taken to the 1st Territorial Police Station of Feira de Santana.
They remain at the disposal of the police authority while investigations continue. The information collected so far should guide new diligences and possible developments of the operation.
Integrated Operation Brings Together State Agencies and Strengthens Fight Against Organized Crime in the Fuel Sector
Coordinated by the Territorial Police Station of São Sebastião do Passé, Operation Black Gold received support from the Military Police and the Department of Finance of Bahia. The joint action of the institutions reinforces the state’s commitment to combat crimes that harm the fuel market, cause billion-dollar losses, and jeopardize the economic security of the sector.
Authorities emphasize that investigations are ongoing and that new individuals may be identified as the seized material is analyzed.
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