Launched on 17 March and identified as “Operation car wash” the purpose is to investigate a possible money laundering and hard currency evasion schemes involving a network of black market transactions. According to police sources the money involved in the illegal schemes could be in the range of 4.5 billion dollars.
The Brazilian Federal Police also points out that on Friday is was complying with 23 court orders referred to the same operation which included arrests and summons in the cities of Sao Paulo, Campinas, Rio do Janeiro, Macaé and Niteroi.
The court orders helped the Federal Police get hold of documentation which will enable to continue with the overall investigation.
The alleged corruption cases in Petrobras have been repeatedly exposed by Brazilian former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso who has been asking for a full investigation into the case, and demanding Congress name an inquest committee.
The cases involve the purchase by Petrobras of a refinery in Texas at an extraordinarily high price as well as certain operations in Argentina.
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