Brazilian Federal Police Officers Used Phones Registered to Deceased in Corruption Scheme
The Brazilian Federal Police (PF) identified evidence that federal police officers utilized telephone lines registered in the names of deceased individuals during a corruption investigation in Rio de Janeiro. This discovery emerged from Operation Without Refining, launched on May 15, 2026, targeting the Refit refinery and involving former Rio Governor Cláudio Castro and refinery owner Ricardo Magro. According to a decision by Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, investigators found that these clandestine lines were actively used for calls and WhatsApp messages. One device accessed WhatsApp via an IP address linked to the Federal Police's internal network, specifically associated with a clerk at the Nova Iguaçu police station. The PF asserts this indicates a deliberate strategy to conceal identities and suggests the participation of federal employees in the criminal organization. The broader investigation examines allegations of fraudulent management, money laundering, tax evasion, and collusion between fuel sector businessmen and public agents in Rio. Seventeen search and seizure warrants were executed across Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and the Federal District, alongside measures to remove suspects from public service.
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