Penthouses and high-end properties in Icaraí, Camboinhas, Itaipava and Angra dos Reis are among the addresses targeted by search and seizure warrants in the 8th phase of Operation Unha e Carne, launched this Thursday (15) by the Federal Police (PF).
The properties attract attention due to their structure and leisure spaces. Among the elements identified are a monumental swimming pool, areas with wooden chairs and furniture, lounge space to receive guests, wine cellar and ping-pong table.
In the cellar located in one of the houses, the PF found money, around R$40,000, in the space reserved for wines.
In one of the properties you can also see a private gym. Another house has a sand court and several outbuildings, with a standard much higher than that of conventional residences.
The Operation targets a group that, according to the Federal Police, used 96 gas stations in Greater Rio and the Lagos Region to launder money, with the participation of public agents and political-institutional articulation.
Among those arrested are Márcio Canella (União Brasil), elected state deputy and former mayor of Belford Roxo, and Marcus Amim, delegate and former state secretary of Civil Police. Both had already been the target of searches in the 6th phase of the operation, in July.
In total, agents went out to serve 6 arrest warrants and 16 search and seizure warrants in Rio de Janeiro, Nova Iguaçu, Niterói, São Gonçalo, Petrópolis, Angra dos Reis and Armação dos Búzios.
The orders were determined by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The operation is also part of the context of ADPF 635, the ADPF das Favelas, which determined, among other measures, that the PF conduct investigations into relations between public agents and criminal groups in RJ.
According to a financial intelligence report from the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf), the group investigated handled more than R$7.6 billion between 2020 and 2026.
Moraes also ordered the seizure of goods and valuables and the suspension of economic activities of 112 investigated companies, of which 96 are gas stations and associated resellers.
According to the PF, in addition to armed criminal organizations, crimes such as money laundering, active and passive corruption, violation of functional secrecy, illegal sale of fuel and cartel formation are investigated, according to the participation attributed to each person.
Márcio Canella: political articulation. According to the investigation, he played the role of political coordinator for the group and made the connection between public agents and the economic structure formed around the gas stations. The investigation states that Canella articulated the appointment of Marcus Amim to the presidency of Detran-RJ and, later, to the Civil Police Secretariat. Investigators also point out that Canella received around R$2.59 million in credits from Brumar Empreendimentos, in addition to more than R$139 thousand in cash. The origin of these values, according to the investigation, was not clarified. Canella was indicted for armed criminal organization and money laundering.
Marcus Amim: performance at the top of security. Marcus Vinicius Amim Fernandes is a delegate and commanded Detran-RJ before taking over the Civil Police Secretariat. According to the investigation, he used his positions to provide institutional protection for the group's activities. Investigators also claim that Amim was a silent partner at the Gasmix Alcântara gas station, alongside the brothers Christiano and Giovanni Gaspar Fernandes. The investigation also points out that one of Amim's companies, Mamim Consultoria, received R$1.821 million from ADM Oil through a consultancy contract that investigators consider fictitious.
Pablo Russo: control of a network of gas stations. Pablo Jukiá Felix Ferreira, known as Pablo Russo, is a Civil Police inspector. According to the investigation, he was the de facto main operator of a wide network of gas stations. The investigation shows that Pablo worked in more than 20 positions and controlled around 43 BR-branded establishments, although the companies were formally registered in the name of his wife and one of her partners. The investigators also claim that Pablo had advance access, through a lawyer, to confidential inspection schedules from Procon and the State Department of Consumer Protection.
José Carlos Alves de Souza Júnior: resource management. José Carlos Alves de Souza Júnior, known as Júnior, is also a Civil Police inspector. According to the investigation, although he did not appear formally as a partner or administrator of most of the companies, Júnior had de facto control over part of the group's economic structure. Investigators claim that he used his wife, Luisi Correa Pinho, as an agent, and participated in the distribution of resources between group members and public agents.
Christiano Gaspar Fernandes: civil police officer and municipal secretary. Christiano Gaspar Fernandes is a Civil Police inspector and holds the position of municipal secretary of the Urban Order of Belford Roxo. According to the investigation, he is a hidden partner in Gasmix Alcântara Posto de Gasolina, together with his brother, Giovanni Gaspar Fernandes.
Giovanni Gaspar Fernandes: hidden society in the post. Also a Civil Police inspector, Giovanni Gaspar Fernandes is identified by the investigation as a hidden partner of Gasmix Alcântara under the same conditions as his brother, Christiano. The investigation also analyzes operations involving Vitaserv, a company linked to Giovanni's wife, Taissa Burgos Fernandes.
Other targets of the operation: In addition to the prisoners, another 6 people under investigation are targets of measures in the 8th phase. They did not have preventive detention ordered, but were included in the search and seizure warrants. One of them was also temporarily removed from public service.
