Mato Grosso police indict four in R$ 70 million agribusiness fraud

The Civil Police of Mato Grosso have indicted four individuals following the conclusion of the ‘Agro-Fantasma Operation’. The investigation uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving the purchase and resale of grains in the western region of the state, which resulted in losses exceeding R$ 70 million for a single rural producer.

According to investigators, the suspects used agribusiness companies to establish financial credibility. The group reportedly built trust by making regular payments during initial transactions. Once a relationship was established, they convinced the victim to assume responsibility for grain purchases from other producers on credit. The suspects would then quickly resell these products, often through cash transactions, while failing to fulfill the original payments. This left the victim and various financial institutions with significant debts and unpaid balances.

In addition to grain trading, the investigation revealed that the victim suffered losses related to the sale of an aircraft and the acquisition of bank loans. Authorities have judicially seized an aircraft as part of the operation. The indictment includes charges of continuous fraud (estelionato), criminal association, and procedural fraud.