Operations Represent a Key Step in Combating Crime in the Fuel Sector
The Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute (IBP) expresses its support for the operations carried out on Thursday (28) by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Federal, Civil and Military Police, Federal Revenue Service, State Finance Departments, and the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), aimed at combating criminal organizations infiltrating the fuel sector.
The scale and complexity of the illicit activities uncovered—which include money laundering, tax fraud, product adulteration, and manipulation of financial market structures—reveal a threat that goes beyond unfair competition.
“This is a systemic risk to the integrity of the formal economy, undermining investor confidence, exposing consumers to poor-quality products, and, more seriously, using the fuel sector’s reach to finance other criminal activities,” warns Ana Mandelli, Executive Director of Downstream at IBP.
IBP emphasizes that, beyond enforcement, it is imperative to advance the legislative agenda to establish and apply instruments that create permanent barriers against the informal market. The institute considers the following measures as priorities:
- Chronic Tax Debtor: Establishes general rules to identify and control taxpayers who repeatedly fail to meet their tax obligations.
- Invoice Data Sharing: Authorizes ANP to access Federal Revenue Service data, allowing cross-referencing of information for more effective combat against tax evasion.
- Fuel Theft and Robbery: Proposes specific classification for these crimes, as current legislation does not address issues such as direct pipeline theft (clandestine taps) and product resale, practices that feed illegal supply chains, create environmental and safety risks, and cause annual losses of billions of BRL to the sector.
As a key spokesperson for an industry that values ethics and transparency, IBP reaffirms its commitment to actively collaborate with authorities. Defending a fair, competitive business environment free from criminal influence is a fundamental pillar for ensuring national energy security and the well-being of Brazilian society.
