95% of Rio de Janeiro Gas Stations Irregular, Organized Crime Suspected

An alarming 95.23% of registered gas stations in Rio de Janeiro are operating irregularly with the state's finance department, according to data from the State Finance Secretariat. These stations have failed to submit or have submitted incomplete information regarding fuel purchases and sales. State officials, including Finance Secretary Guilherme Mercês, highlight that this lack of data hinders tax auditors and facilitates tax evasion, money laundering, and fiscal fraud, which are identified as significant funding sources for organized criminal groups. The state has a total of 2,205 registered gas stations, and 2,100 were recently notified for these fiscal declaration failures. Secretary Mercês emphasized that tax fraud has become a primary revenue stream for organized crime in general.

Increased enforcement has also revealed a surge in irregularities related to fuel transport. Last month, fiscal barriers issued R$1.78 million in fines against fuel-transporting trucks, a 482% increase from the previous year. These penalties primarily targeted vehicles entering the state without proper invoices or with irregular documentation. The State Finance Secretariat attributes this rise to the restructuring of fiscal barriers, noting significant month-over-month increases in infractions. Beyond tax evasion, authorities are investigating the use of gas stations for money laundering, where illicit funds from activities like drug trafficking and corruption are injected into station revenues to appear legitimate. The Ministry of Justice and Public Security estimates over a thousand gas stations in the state may be linked to criminal organizations and has announced a task force to combat these frauds. Minister Wellington César Lima stated that combating organized crime requires coordinated efforts from control agencies without disrupting public supply.

Recent investigations have intensified scrutiny on the fuel market. The Federal Police targeted a gas station network suspected of laundering over R$7 billion, with former Belford Roxo mayor Márcio Canella among those investigated. Another probe involves state deputy Thiago Rangel, arrested for alleged embezzlement, whose affiliated gas stations are under investigation for "low pump" fraud, where less fuel is dispensed than paid for, reportedly generating R$1.6 million monthly. Industry representatives, including the Instituto Combustível Legal and the Rio de Janeiro State Fuel Resellers Union, support stricter enforcement and coordinated action. They note that a high volume of cash transactions at gas stations facilitates illicit financial movements. The unions advocate for the removal of criminal elements to ensure fair competition and are guiding their members to comply with fiscal requirements, though some find the deadlines challenging.