Operation Vassalos targets ex-Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho and his family, including his sons Miguel Coelho and Fernando Filho, for their alleged involvement in a criminal scheme that involves the embezzlement of parliamentary amendments, bidding fraud, and money laundering. The investigation, authorized by Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino, led to 42 search and seizure warrants being executed, revealing widespread corruption tied to Brazilian political structures.

On the specified day of the operation, law enforcement seized materials from various locations, including a construction company and a dealership connected to the Coelho family, as well as the municipality's headquarters in Petrolina, Pernambuco. The Federal Police noted that the political core being investigated funneled funds through amendments and Decentralized Execution Terms (TEDs) to the city and the Codevasf, a federal development company.

Crucially, the investigation has unearthed that a portion of the funds designated for Petrolina was diverted to finance contracts with Liga Engenharia, suggesting deeper layers of corruption within local governance and economic activities. This case not only underscores the challenges of political integrity in Brazil but also raises serious questions about accountability among public officials and their families.