A 44-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman have been arrested by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) in the Lisbon area under international arrest warrants issued by Brazilian judicial authorities. The foreign nationals are suspected of involvement in organized crime, corruption, and money laundering related to the trade of fuel adulterated with methanol.
“In 2023, following the seizure of 30,000 liters of methanol, the subsequent investigation into the origin of the seized chemical compound led to the discovery of a criminal organization involved in trading methanol-adulterated fuel, corrupting public officials, and hiding assets and funds from these illicit activities,” detailed the PJ in a statement sent to newsrooms on Saturday.
Authorities revealed that the network “operated in an organized and structured manner, with a clear division of roles,” stating that “one of the detained individuals was the leader of the organization, responsible for making all decisions, issuing orders to subordinates, and managing the group’s financial resources.”
Additionally, “illicit funds of the criminal organization” were found with the second detainee, who assisted in “concealing assets and values,” and “various luxury vehicles used by other organization members” were discovered.
The duo faces potential sentencing of up to 12 years in prison. However, they will first appear before the Lisbon Court of Appeal to determine the enforcement of coercive measures.
