The Santa Catarina Civil Police conducted this Wednesday (1st) Operation Concrete to investigate the alleged practice of fraudulent bidding. Search and seizure warrants were executed in the cities of Joinville, Garuva and Blumenau.

The police confiscated several items, including weapons and ammunition, from the homes and headquarters of the companies under investigation. Photo: Joinville Civil Police/Disclosure.

This was the first operation carried out by Decor de Joinville, the 3rd Anti-Corruption Police Station, opened in November 2022, to fight corruption and investigate crimes committed against government assets.

During the action this Wednesday, seven warrants were executed to search and seize the residences and headquarters of the companies under investigation. Several electronic devices such as cell phones and computers were confiscated during the action), extensive documentation, more than 10,000 reais in cash, in addition to three weapons with hidden numbering, a .38 SPL revolver, a 12 GA shotgun and a .22 caliber pistol LR.

Approximately 25 police officers took part in the protest this Wednesday – Photo: Joinville Civil Police/Disclosure

Operation Concrete investigates the activities of a criminal group engaged in the falsification of personal documents and changing the corporate data of companies. The purpose of counterfeiting is to provide an opportunity for individuals and legal entities that are prohibited from entering into contracts with the state due to their recognition as unsuitable, to participate in the auction and, thus, for illegal employment.

In only one of these cases, the investigation revealed fraud in a bid that took place in 2022 for an approximate amount of BRL 1,135,500. The scam would allow the hire of a company owned by a criminal group created by the core of a family business operating in civil engineering and land transportation. The hiring did not take place only because the prosecutor’s office discovered fraud.

The Police Investigation of the Civil Police investigates the criminal organization’s possible crime practices, falsification of personal documents, violation of the competitive nature of bidding and money laundering.