Brazil Federal Police launch operations against CPF fraud and amendment diversion

The Brazilian Federal Police have launched two major operations targeting different fraudulent schemes.

In Operação Malebolge, authorities are investigating a scheme to fraudulently issue CPF numbers in Rio de Janeiro. The investigation suggests that suspects used falsified civil documents and corrupted public agents at service units to obtain irregular registrations. Search and seizure warrants were executed in Rio de Janeiro and Nova Iguaçu, including the Cidade de Deus community.

Simultaneously, the Federal Police have indicted 25 individuals in Operação Overclean, which investigates the diversion of R$ 1.4 billion in parliamentary amendments and bidding fraud. Among those indicted is businessman José Marcos de Moura, known as ‘Rei do Lixo’, and former coordinators of the National Department of Works Against Droughts (Dnocs). The investigation involves suspected crimes of corruption, embezzlement, criminal organization, and money laundering, with contracts spanning several states including Bahia, Tocantins, Amapá, Rio de Janeiro, and Goiás.