In an interview with TV Brazil This Monday (29), the communication director of the Brazilian Association to Combat forgery (ABCF) Rodolpho Heck Ramazzinio said that The methanol imported by organized crime to tamper fuels may have been redirected to clandestine beverage distributors, which would explain recent cases of intoxication in the state of São Paulo.
According to Ramazzinio, this redirection occurred mainly after the Operation Hidden Carbonfrom the IRS and partner agencies, which in late August dismantled a fraud scheme, money laundering and falsification in the fuel sector.
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“You have the companies banned, the carrier of the cars, the CCP, is still [em razão da operação Carbono]. The tanks, which were not within the courtyards of these companies begin to be spawned in other companies. They start selling this to the chemical company, start selling it to clandestine distilleries. The guys do this to gain volume, earn the scale, they don’t care about anyone’s health, “he said.
According to the ABCF 2025 forgery yearbook, the beverage sector was the most harmed by the illegal market in 2024, with estimated losses of R $ 88 billion: R $ 29 billion in tax evasion and R $ 59 billion of revenue losses of legalized industries.
Operation hidden carbon reached about 1,000 gas stations linked to the criminal group, which moved R $ 52 billion between 2020 and 2024.
According to the IRS, the methanol imported supposedly for other purposes was diverted for use in the manufacture of adulterated gasoline.
Balance
According to the São Paulo State Government, Since June this year, six cases of methanol poisoning have been confirmed with suspected adulterated drink consumption.
Currently, ten cases are under investigation, of which Three resulted in death – A 58 -year -old man in São Bernardo do Campo, a 54 -year -old man in São Paulo and the 45 -year -old third, still without identified residence.
Recommendation
The CVS stresses that the consumption of alcoholic beverages of clandestine origin or without reliable origin poses risk to health as they may contain toxic substances.
“The recommendation of the CVS is that bars, companies and other establishments to see attention regarding the origin of the products offered, and that the population only gets drinks from legalized manufacturers, label, safety seal and fiscal seal, avoiding dubious origin and preventing cases of intoxication that can put life at risk.”
