Energy theft and illegal activities in Brazil

Law enforcement and utility companies in Brazil have intensified efforts to combat illegal activities, specifically focusing on energy theft and unauthorized businesses.

In Rio de Janeiro, local authorities conducted targeted operations to shutter a clandestine scrapyard suspected of handling stolen vehicle parts and potential insurance fraud. Simultaneously, police and technicians in Niterói arrested individuals for energy theft at local kiosks.

Broader reports from utility providers indicate the massive scale of these irregularities. In Rio de Janeiro, the company Light reported recovering enough energy in September to power approximately 25,000 homes for one month, noting that theft causes annual losses of roughly R$ 1.3 billion. In Bahia, Neoenergia Coelba identified over 23,000 irregularities during the third quarter of 2026, recovering 187.5 GWh of energy through specialized intelligence and monitoring systems.

Recent enforcement actions in Rio de Janeiro have expanded through the ‘Operação Desmonte’ task force. Detran RJ conducted inspections on Estrada do Catonho in the Sulacap region, targeting hubs for automotive parts and scrap metal trade. During the operation, authorities intervened at four irregular scrap yards, including one of the city’s largest. Officers discovered a part from a Chevrolet Tracker stolen in February 2026, leading to an arrest for suspicion of receiving stolen goods. Additionally, inspectors from the State Institute of the Environment (Inea) identified environmental risks, such as motor oil leaking into the soil, at an establishment that had previously been closed by Detran RJ in 2024.