The Federal Police, the Federal Public Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (Mapa) launched Operation Alcanos today (20), with the objective of “investigating fraud in the registration of the Federal Inspection System (SIF) and the manufacture and sale of butter adulterated with the use of vegetable fat in place of milk cream”.
According to the Federal Police, two temporary arrest warrants and seven search and seizure warrants issued by the 2nd Court of the Federal Judicial Subsection of Pouso Alegre are being carried out in the municipalities of Pouso Alto and Itamonte (both in Minas Gerais) and in Taboão da Serra and Itapecerica da Serra (Sao Paulo).
The investigations found “adulteration with the use of vegetable fat; sorbic acid/sorbate and the presence of total and fecal coliforms” and that, in the first half of 2002 alone, approximately R$ 2.4 million were moved in products destined for the adulteration of butter, distributed in almost 10 thousand boxes of vegetable fat .
“Irregular earnings from counterfeiting were estimated at approximately R$ 12 million, calculated on sales for the years 2021 and 2022 until July 1st”, informed the PF. threat against a Map inspector.
“Against them, the Federal Court issued temporary arrest warrants. In addition to the search and seizure measures, the Federal Court also determined the seizure of assets, in the amount of R$ 12,390,338.48”, the PF detailed in a note.
Those involved may be liable for crimes of corruption, adulteration or alteration of substance or food products; casing or container with false indication and falsification of seal or public sign, in addition to a threat in the course of the process. If convicted, they can serve up to 24 years in prison, in addition to a fine.
