The Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul has announced the conclusion of Operation Capa Dura, which probed an alleged corruption scheme within the Municipal Education Secretariat (Smed) of Porto Alegre. The investigation reveals possible steering of purchases and misallocation of funds within the education sector. It was uncovered that numerous books, over a thousand Chromebooks, and other educational kits were found neglected in municipal storage facilities.

The case was initially brought to light by the RBS Investigation Group, which discovered thousands of books stored improperly in the municipality's depots, shedding light on significant mismanagement of resources. A total of over 50 individuals were investigated in connection with this case, resulting in 48 indictments against 34 persons. Notably, one of the high-profile figures implicated in these findings is former education secretary, Sônia da Rosa, who faced indictment in six of the seven inquiries conducted during the operation.

With the investigations led by the State Department for the Repression of Crimes against Public Administration, there are broader implications regarding accountability and governance within public education in Brazil. The nature of the allegations draws attention to the need for transparency and proper administration in public resources, highlighting systemic issues within the education sector that demand reform and oversight to prevent future misconduct.