The Special Action Group for Combating Organized Crime (Gaeco), from the São Paulo Public Ministry, carried out on Friday, the 28th, Operation Merx to investigate a corruption and money laundering scheme involving civil police officers from Greater São Paulo. The operation had support from the Internal Affairs Office of the Civil Police.
The court ordered the preventive detention of seven suspects, including four civil police officers, a lawyer, and two people identified as responsible for paying illegal benefits to the agents. One investigator was also removed from duty and prohibited from contacting suspects and witnesses.
According to the Public Ministry, the police officers demanded bribes equivalent to approximately 70% of the value of the goods to not fully seize or return batches of electronic devices of foreign origin illegally introduced into the country.
The amounts charged in the scheme total approximately R$ 2.35 million. The operation also executes search and seizure warrants at various addresses linked to the suspects.
