Rifle and six firearms seized from Deputy Mário Frias's address in Federal Police operation
Federal Police seized seven firearms linked to Deputy Mário Frias (PL-SP) during Operation Make Up, which investigates the diversion of R$ 2 million in parliamentary amendments for the film "Dark Horse".
Federal Police seizes rifle and six firearms from Mário Frias's addresses during Operation Make Up
The Federal Police seized a rifle and six other firearms from addresses linked to federal Deputy Mário Frias (PL-SP) during the execution of search and seizure warrants on the morning of Thursday 10th, according to brasildefato.com.br.
The firearms were found at an address different from the one declared by the parliamentarian to the authorities. Based on this, Federal Police launched a specific investigation to verify whether Frias committed the crime of illegal possession of a firearm. In addition to the seven weapons, officers collected computers and mobile phones from the locations searched.
Operation Make Up and the film "Dark Horse"
The operations are part of Operation Make Up, launched by Federal Police with support from the Office of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU). The central target of the investigation is an alleged scheme involving the diversion of public funds from parliamentary amendments, which are believed to have been directed to the financing of the film "Dark Horse" — a biographical film about former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Frias worked on the project as executive producer and screenwriter.
The investigation, authorised by Supreme Federal Court (STF) minister Flávio Dino, specifically targets R$ 2 million in parliamentary amendments issued by Frias to the Conhecer Brasil Institute (ICB), an entity controlled by businesswoman Karina Ferreira da Gama. The ICB is believed to have been used to intermediary the transfer of public resources to the audiovisual production.
49 warrants in four states
The operation executed 49 search and seizure warrants issued by the STF in the Federal District, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Ceará. According to the Federal Police, "investigations point to the existence of a criminal organisation, formed by public and private officials, suspected of directing received amounts to subcontracted companies in an irregular manner, without proof of the actual provision of contracted services". Federal Police added that "attempts to conceal the diversions are believed to have extended until July 2026".
Financial surveys identified atypical movements of hundreds of millions of reais between the investigated companies. Those involved face suspicions of embezzlement, falsification of documents, money laundering, criminal organisation and irregularities in public procurement processes.
Deputy Mário Frias's office did not respond to requests for comment before the report was published. The production company responsible for the film had stated, in June this year, that the production's accounts are in order.
Source: Google News BR — Crime