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Federal Revenue Intensifies Fight Against Fuel Fraud and Targets Irregular Importation with National Operation That Exposed Money Laundering, Tax Evasion, and Naphtha Diversion.
The Brazilian fuel market has returned to the spotlight after the launch of operation Carbon Chain, which targeted fraudulent importation as its main objective. The action was carried out on Friday (9/19) and reported on Monday (9/22), reinforcing the government’s strategy to dismantle schemes involving everything from money laundering to tax evasion.
Two ships were detained in Rio de Janeiro, transporting oil, condensate, and fuels valued at approximately R$ 240 million. The cargo was destined for the Manguinhos Refinery, from Refit, as confirmed by the Federal Revenue Service.
Sophisticated Scheme Involved Different Ports and Shell Companies
Investigations pointed out that 11 targets in five states were audited: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Alagoas, Paraíba, and Amapá. In these locations, companies with little or no formal structure presented themselves as importers of millions in volume.
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Iran said that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but in practice only 1 non-Iranian oil tanker managed to cross in 24 hours — before the blockade, 100 ships passed per day.
One of the most commonly used frauds was anticipated clearance, when the merchandise was registered at one port and unloaded at another. This way, those involved managed to evade tax authorities and conceal the identity of the real importers.
According to the Federal Revenue Service, this practice also favored currency evasion and other financial crimes. Therefore, the agency promises to publish a Normative Instruction soon to regulate and restrict this mechanism.
This new phase is part of a broader effort, initiated with operations Quasar, Tank, and Hidden Carbon, considered the largest offensive ever conducted against the infiltration of organized crime into the formal economy of the country.
In addition to fuel importation, fraud related to product adulteration and tax evasion was also identified. The scheme also had ramifications in the financial market, according to investigators.
Political Pressure Grows for Legal Changes Against Fraud in the Sector
The operations triggered a strong reaction in the National Congress. After the first phase, the advancement of bill PL 125/2022, which defines harsher penalties for persistent debtors, progressed. The text has already been approved in the Senate and awaits a vote in the Chamber of Deputies.
The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, defended the urgency of the measure: “This law is very important for Brazil.”
The Legal Fuel Institute also highlighted the relevance of regulatory frameworks that reinforce oversight and ensure fair competition in the sector.
Another area of concern is naphtha diversion, a product used in the formulation of gasoline or sold irregularly as a final fuel. This topic is already part of the discussions on tax reform, with amendments proposed to strengthen the fight against this practice.
The expectation is that the text will be discussed soon in the Senate Plenary, with a vote scheduled for this Tuesday (9/23).
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