Agência Brasil, a news agency run by the Brazilian government, reported that Brazilian law enforcement authorities recently executed “the largest anti-organized crime operation in Brazil’s history,” which targeted the First Capital Command (“PCC”). Agência Brasil indicated that approximately 1,400 law enforcement officials issued search, seizure and arrest warrants as part of Operation Hidden Carbon, which targeted 350 individuals and companies across Brazil that were suspected of engaging in various financial crimes, including tax evasion and money laundering, for the PCC. The amount of tax evaded proceeds allegedly exceeds 7.5 billion reais ($1.4 billion).
The PCC reportedly ran a massive operation involving approximately 1,000 gas stations that generated 52 billion reais ($9.5 billion) between 2020 and 2024 and were fined more than 890 million reais ($164 million), according to Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service. Agência Brasil also reported that an unnamed fintech payment institution that acted as a shadow bank for the PCC allegedly moved approximately 46 billion reais ($8.5 billion) in untraceable assets for the group. The PCC also purportedly controls at least 40 investment funds worth approximately 30 billion ($5.5 billion) and has reportedly purchased a port terminal, four ethanol plants, 1,600 fuel trucks and more than 100 properties. According to the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office, certain property owners who sold their gas stations to the group never received proceeds from the sales and were reportedly threatened with death if they made any demands.