Brazil Federal Police raid over Roraima emendas Pix scheme

emendas Pix Operation Acesso Negado Iracema São Luiz do Anauá ambulance overpricing

Brazil’s Federal Police carried out Operation Acesso Negado, executing 41 search and seizure warrants in Roraima, Bahia, São Paulo and Tocantins. The operation targets alleged irregularities in the use of federal “emendas Pix” transfers totaling roughly R$90‑150 million that were directed to the municipalities of Iracema and São Luiz do Anauá in Roraima.

Investigations, based on audits by the Controladoria‑Geral da União and authorized by Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino, identified overpricing—ambulances purchased by Iracema at about 32% above the market rate—as well as payments for works that were paused or never executed. The probe points to possible crimes such as corruption, peculato, fraud in public contracts and money laundering, implicating municipal officials, local companies and several parliamentarians who had indicated the emendas, including Antonio Nicoletti (PL‑RR), Dr. Hiran (PP‑RR), former senator Telmário Mota and former deputy Jhonatan de Jesus.

The Federal Police seized cash during the raids and municipal authorities, such as Iracema’s mayor Marlene Saraiva, have pledged full cooperation. No arrests of elected officials were reported at this stage, but the investigation continues to assess the extent of the alleged misappropriation of public funds.