Mato Grosso Gaeco operation targets R$28 million agribusiness fraud

The Special Action Group Against Organized Crime (Gaeco) launched the second phase of Operation Safra Desviada to investigate an alleged scheme that diverted roughly R$28.7 million from the agribusiness sector in Mato Grosso. Investigators say the suspects used companies and financial mechanisms to obtain illicit gains in cotton‑related transactions, causing losses to producers and companies.

Judicial measures included the seizure of an aircraft and three vehicles, the breaking of bank and fiscal secrecy of ten individuals and entities, the blocking of financial assets and the freezing of real‑estate owned by the accused. Ten to fourteen search and seizure warrants were executed in the municipalities of Lucas do Rio Verde, Nova Ubiratã, Sinop and Tapurah in Mato Grosso, as well as in Presidente Prudente and Álvares Machado in São Paulo. The operation was carried out by teams from the Mato Grosso and São Paulo police forces under the coordination of the Mato Grosso State Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Gaeco is a permanent task force that brings together the Civil Police, Military Police, Penal Police and the Socio‑educational System to combat organized crime in the state.