October 23, 2026
Reading time • 5 min
Civil Police dismantle counterfeit beverage network in Guarulhos (SP)
An operation in Guarulhos (SP) seized suspicious products from a distributor that used a “front man” and a businessman convicted of money laundering. The operation aims to protect consumers’ health from adulterated and illegal beverages.
Civil police officers from the state of São Paulo executed a search and seizure warrant in Guarulhos on Thursday (22). The target was a beverage distributor suspected of supplying counterfeit products to the market.
The operation took place at an industrial warehouse located on Estrada Velha de Guarulhos, in the São Miguel neighborhood. The operation was coordinated by the 3rd General Investigations Precinct (DIG) and involved 30 civil police officers.
- The investigation identified suspicious invoices for large quantities of beverages.
- The company used a “front man” to conceal the true owner of the business.
- The suspect is a businessman convicted in Minas Gerais for money laundering.
- Experts from Abrabe and the Health Surveillance Agency assisted in the inspection.
- The goal is to protect consumers’ health from adulterated products.
Counterfeiting Scheme and Use of Shell Companies
Initial investigations revealed that the establishment handled large volumes of beverages with invoices of dubious origin. In addition to the suspicious documents, the São Paulo Civil Police identified irregularities in the company’s registration records.
These inconsistencies suggest that the company used a “front man” to hide who actually controls the business. The individual identified as the operator is reportedly a businessman who has been convicted by a Minas Gerais court for crimes such as money laundering, concealment of assets, and tax violations.
In October 2025, this same businessman became the subject of an investigation by regulatory agencies. He is suspected of having participated in schemes to adulterate beverages with methanol, a toxic substance.
Integrated Enforcement and Public Health
While executing the warrant, agents focused on three main areas. First, they examined the sanitary conditions under which the products were stored. Second, they looked for concrete evidence of counterfeiting. Third, they verified the origin of all seized goods.
The operation received multidisciplinary support, including experts from the Brazilian Beverage Association (Abrabe) and agents from the Health Surveillance Agency and the São Paulo Department of Finance and Planning. This collaboration is essential for the accuracy of the analyses.
Police Chief Fernando David, of the 3rd DIG, explained that the operation aims to curb the sale of unregulated beverages and hold all those involved criminally liable. “This coordinated effort allows us to verify not only the origin of the products but also the conditions under which they are stored and sold, thereby protecting consumer health and combating illegal practices,” said the police chief.
« Home
