The Federal Police (PF) conducted an operation on September 17 against irregular deductions affecting retirees and pensioners of the National Social Security Institute (INSS). During this operation, the authorities seized over R$ 237,000 in cash and ten vehicles valued at over R$ 2 million. Additionally, luxury items such as 31 pairs of designer glasses and 15 high-end bags were confiscated, indicating the scale of the operation and the illicit gains involved.

Investigations by the PF and the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU) revealed a criminal scheme that managed to execute irregular deductions from payments made to retirees and pensioners between 2019 and 2024. Estimates indicate that the total amount potentially diverted through these irregularities could reach R$ 6.3 billion, highlighting a significant ongoing threat to the integrity of pension funds in Brazil.

Among those arrested during the operation were businessman Natjo de Lima Pinheiro and attorney Cecília Rodrigues Mota, a former president of associations for retirees and pensioners in Ceará, both implicated in the scheme. Furthermore, Federal Deputy Gorete Pereira (MDB-CE) was subjected to search warrants and precautionary measures, indicating that the investigation may uncover higher-level political connections in this fraudulent activity, complicating the overall response to the scandal.