Federal Police identified a payment of R$14.2 million from Athena Real Estate LTDA — a company linked to the EUV Gladiator fund of the Refit group — to Ciro Nogueira Agropecuária e Imóveis LTDA, owned by relatives of Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI). The transaction was detected during Operation Sem Refino, authorized by Minister Alexandre de Moraes on May 15, 2026, to investigate fraud and tax evasion schemes in the fuel sector. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O ministro Alexandre de Moraes, do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), atendeu a pedido da Polícia Federal (PF) para a realização da Operação Sem Refino, na manhã desta sexta-feira (15), e determinou o cumprimento de mandados de busca e apreensão contra várias autoridades do Rio de Janeiro, bem como o afastamento do exercício de funções públicas. Na mesma decisão foi determinada a prisão preventiva do dono da Refit, antiga Refinaria de Manguinhos, Ricardo Magro."
"A PF detectou a transferência de R$ 14,2 milhões da Athena, 'principal beneficiária' do fundo, para a empresa Ciro Nogueira Agropecuária e Imóveis. A contabilidade não informa o motivo do pagamento nem dá detalhes sobre o negócio, o que deve ser aprofundado em um próximo momento da investigação."
The senator confirmed the payment and said it refers to the sale of 40 hectares in Teresina (PI) for the construction of a fuel distributor. "The value mentioned by the reporter refers to the sale of this area, located in a highly valued location in Teresina, whose sale was regular and fully declared to the competent authorities," he stated. According to Ciro Nogueira, he held less than 1% participation in the family company at the time of the negotiation in 2024. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O valor mencionado pelo repórter se refere à venda dessa área, situada em local altamente valorizado em Teresina, cuja venda foi regular e totalmente declarada junto aos órgãos competentes em valores condizentes com o mercado"
Operation Sem Refino primarily targets Ricardo Magro, owner of Refit and identified by the Federal Revenue as Brazil's largest habitual tax debtor, with debts exceeding R$26 billion. The investigation examines a money laundering scheme structured through factoring companies to "give an appearance of legality to resources from under-invoiced fuel sales from the refinery to distributors," according to STF Petition 16028. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"o grupo criminoso, com o objetivo de dar aparência de legalidade aos recursos oriundos de vendas subfaturadas de combustível pela refinaria às distribuidoras, teria estruturado um circuito financeiro por meio das factorings YIELD FINANCIAL SERVICES S/A (CNPJ n. 19.872.663/0001-24) e ALPHA FINANCIAL S.A. (CNPJ n. 44.254.375/0001-53), responsáveis por centralizar os pagamentos dos postos revendedores"
In a subsequent interview, Ciro Nogueira said that "the company itself didn't pay until the end, which is why it hasn't been transferred yet," contradicting PF information indicating full payment of R$14.2 million. The investigation also identified transfers of R$1.3 million from Refit to Jonathas Assunção Salvador Nery de Castro, former executive secretary of the Civil House when Ciro Nogueira was minister in the Bolsonaro government. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A própria empresa não pagou até o final, por isso não foi transferido até agora. Uma transação comercial mais do que lícita. Vocês vão ver que não tem nenhuma ilegalidade"
Ricardo Magro is Brazil's largest habitual tax debtor according to Federal Revenue, with debts exceeding R$26 billion
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Jonathas Assunção received R$1.3 million from Refit when he was executive secretary of Civil House under Ciro Nogueira
Conflicting versions (1)
Status of R$14.2 million payment
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What is the current status of the payment — was it full as per PF or partial as per Ciro Nogueira?
Why it's still unknown: Ciro Nogueira stated the payment was not completed, but PF detected full transfer of R$14.2 million. The senator's office did not respond about this discrepancy.
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What exactly was the corporate structure of the family company at the time of the transaction?
Why it's still unknown: Ciro Nogueira says he had less than 1% participation, but there is no public detail of the corporate composition in 2024.
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How did the financial circuit between Refit funds and shell companies operate?
Why it's still unknown: PF mentions structure via YIELD and ALPHA factoring companies, but operational details of the scheme have not been publicly disclosed.