Police in Brazil have arrested four people for selling meat that was allegedly unfit for human consumption as it had come into contact with floodwater.
Rio de Janeiro Civil Police conducted the operation against a company in Três Rios earlier this month. It was called Operation Carne Fraca but is not related to the findings of the operation with the same name published in 2017.
Officials executed search and seizure warrants at addresses linked to those under investigation, in the city of Três Rios, in the Central-South Region of Rio de Janeiro. Four people were arrested.
According to the investigations, in May to June 2024, taking advantage of the heavy rain and flooding that devastated the state of Rio Grande do Sul, representatives of a company acquired 800 tons of spoiled beef, which had been in contact with floodwater in Porto Alegre. They claimed that the intention was to manufacture animal feed.
However, the police said the group sold the meat to other companies, making a profit of more than 1,000 percent and putting consumers across Brazil at risk.
Enquiries are ongoing but those investigated may be charged with criminal association, receiving stolen goods, adulteration and corruption of food.
In another operation, civil police officers from the Consumer Protection Department (Decon) seized two tons of meat that they claimed was unfit for consumption in a supermarket in Gramacho, Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense.
Officers went to the establishment after receiving complaints about the sale of spoiled products. The supermarket belongs to a chain with several stores in Rio de Janeiro.
During the visit, two store managers fled but employees were taken to the police station to give statements. An investigation has been opened to determine the managers’ responsibility.
The supermarket was closed. Officials are investigating whether the seized items are related to the sale of meat that was affected in the flood in Porto Alegre.
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