The Brazilian Federal Revenue, Federal Police, and the General Controller of the Union (CGU) have conducted a major operation against a group suspected of embezzling R$ 30 million from the federal program Farmácia Popular, which was established in 2004 to complement the primary health care offering of medications. The operation involved executing four search and seizure warrants across various locations including Dourados (MS), João Pessoa (PB), Lagoa Santa (MG), Carazinho (RS), and Pirangi (SP). The law enforcement agencies aim to uncover the full extent of the fraudulent activities linked to this scheme.

According to the Federal Revenue, the suspects allegedly obtained CNPJs (National Registry of Legal Entities) from pharmacies already registered in the program and transferred ownership to individuals termed as 'laranjas,' or 'straw men.' This was followed by the illegal use of CPFs (Individual Taxpayer Registry) of consumers to falsely record nonexistent sales of medications under the Farmácia Popular initiative. This fraudulent practice allowed the perpetrators to claim illicit reimbursements for medications, significantly draining public resources meant for health care.

This operation sheds light on systemic issues within the management of federal programs in Brazil, leading to serious implications for public health funding and a call for more stringent monitoring and regulations. The investigation represents a critical step not only in recovering misallocated funds but also in preserving the integrity of programs designed to provide essential health services to the Brazilian population.