PF launches operation against R$ 185 million fraud in Ponta Grossa

The Federal Police unleashed Operation Tax Mirage on Thursday (12), which investigates an alleged tax fraud scheme with amounts that can exceed R$ 185 million. The action, carried out in conjunction with the Federal Revenue, mobilized teams in Ponta Grossa, and in seven other cities of different Brazilian states.

In total, 19 search and seizure warrants were issued, as well as judicial measures for the seizure of assets linked to the investigators. The operation involved 14 teams from the Federal Police and 11 other teams from the Federal Revenue.

According to the authorities, the investigations began after the identification of irregularities in hundreds of Declarations of Compensation (DComp), documents used by companies to compensate tax debts with claims they claim to have before the Union.

How did the investigated scheme work?

According to the Federal Police, those involved reported non-existent pension credits to make undue compensation and reduce or extinguish tax debts of various companies.

The fraudulent operations would also have allowed the issuance of Negative Debit Certificates (NDCs), documents that prove the tax regularity of companies.

With these certificates, companies that presented tax irregularities could participate in public tenders as if they were in a regular situation before the tax authorities.

In addition to suspected tax fraud, investigators have identified evidence of money laundering and concealment of assets.

Mandates were carried out in eight cities

Operation Tax Mirage has unfolded in municipalities of five Brazilian states. The warrants were carried out in the following cities:

Paraná: Ponta Grossa, Paranaguá and Curitiba;

Santa Catarina: Porto Belo and Itapema;

Amazonas: Manaus;

Round: Ji-Paraná;

Roraima: Boa Vista.

The judicial measures seek to gather evidence, identify those responsible for the alleged scheme and preserve financial resources and assets that can be used to repair possible damages to the public coffers.

Vehicles, jewellery and boat are among the seized goods

During the diligence, federal agents have seized, so far, five vehicles and jewelry. It was also determined the kidnapping of a registered vessel in the name of one of the investigated.

A firearm with the deleted registration number was also located during the searches.

The Federal Police said that the diligences continue and that the materials collected will be analyzed by the teams responsible for the investigation.

The objective is to deepen the investigation, identify all possible participants and verify the existence of other infractions related to the scheme.

To date, no information has been disclosed about the identity of the investigators or the amount of assets specifically seized in Ponta Grossa.

The investigation is still ongoing, and suspicions still depend on proof in the course of legal proceedings.