Police investigate group that poured oil on road to tip over trucks and loot cargo in Paraná

The Paraná Civil Police are investigating a criminal group suspected of spilling oil on the runway to provoke trucks toppling and looting cargoes on BR-476, in the Paulo Frontin region, in the South of Paraná. An operation carried out on Thursday ended with the arrest of a 22-year-old man, pointed out as one of the main articulators of the scheme.

The action was conducted by the 10th Regional Police Station of Mallet, under the coordination of the delegate Thiers Andregotti. The police carried out search and seizure warrants in two residences and two sheds in the town of Fluviópolis, in São Mateus do Sul.

According to the Civil Police, the suspects have developed a strategy to provoke accidents and facilitate the theft of goods transported by truckers. The investigation points out that oil was purposely spilled over the highway, increasing the risk of vehicles losing control and falling.

Oil on the track was used to cause accidents on the BR-476

The investigations focus mainly on BR-476, in Paulo Frontin, especially in the region known as Curva do Limoeiro, a stretch that connects the municipality to São Mateus do Sul.

According to the police, after the overturns, the members of the group would have taken advantage of the situation to remove the goods from the accidented vehicles.

The products would be transported to real estate used for storage and subsequent clandestine marketing.

Civil police are also investigating reports that the suspects used firearms to intimidate truck drivers during looting.

In addition to the BR-476, the researchers investigate the possible performance of the group in other road sections, including the BR-153.

A truck with 2,700 boxes of chicken was looted.

One of the episodes analyzed by the Civil Police occurred in September 2025, when a truck loaded with approximately 2,700 boxes of frozen chicken fell on BR-476, in Paulo Frontin.

At the time, about 220 boxes were looted. The case began to integrate the investigations on the possible action of the criminal organization.

In order to identify the suspects, the police carried out cross-referencing of information, analysis of occurrence reports, reporting and monitoring of locations related to the activities investigated.

22-year-old suspect arrested with gun and ammunition

During Thursday’s operation, a 22-year-old man was arrested in flagrante for illegal possession of a restricted-use firearm.

According to the Civil Police, he is pointed out as one of the main suspects of participating in the placement of oil on the highways to provoke accidents and facilitate the looting.

The officers also seized ammunition of different calibers and materials used in reloading weapons.

After the arrest, the investigator was referred to the 3rd Police Subdivision of São Mateus do Sul, where the flagrante was registered. Subsequently, he was transferred to the Criminal Police Department of Paraná (Deppen), remaining at the disposal of Justice.

The arrest in flagrante occurred for the crime related to the firearm. The possible involvement of the suspect in the provoked landings and lootings continues to be investigated.

Police find load of drinks in shed

Another result of the operation was the seizure of an expressive amount of beverage kits found in one of the surveyed sheds.

According to the Civil Police, no documentation was presented proving the regular origin of the products.

It is suspected that the goods may have been removed from trucks involved in accidents on the highways of the region.

The investigation also resulted in the indictment of a man for the crime of receptiveness.

Investigation continues to identify others involved

The Civil Police said the main suspects have already been identified, but the steps continue to clarify the participation of each investigator and locate other possible members of the group.

Police officers also work to identify people and establishments that may have acquired, stored or marketed the looted goods.

The company points out that the practice investigated poses a serious risk to road safety, as the intentional spill of oil can cause fatal accidents and endanger truckers, passengers and other drivers.

The case also draws attention to the safety of cargo transport on the Paraná highways, a topic of interest for Ponta Grossa and the Campos Gerais, a region marked by the circulation of trucks and the road transport of goods.

Information about possible involved or places of commercialization of products of criminal origin can be passed anonymously by the Disk-Complaint 181.