Justiça torna família Veggi e outros réus; MPF asks for R$3.9 billion

The actions come from the Federal Police's Operation Hermes HG, which investigates an alleged structure of illegal import, sale, transport and use of mercury in the country, mainly destined for mining sites in Mato Grosso and the Amazon region. The complaints do not cover all those investigated nor all the facts discovered in the operation. Other processes were separated and are still being investigated separately.

The decisions were handed down by substitute federal judge Leonardo Limeira Santos, from the 9th Federal Court of Campinas (SP), and published this week. In both cases, the magistrate considered that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with criminal proceedings.

In the first complaint, in addition to Arnoldo, André Ponciano Luiz, “Magrão” was made defendant; Ali Veggi Atala; Ali Veggi Atala Junior; Alberto Veggi Atala; Edilson Rodrigues de Campos; Edgar dos Santos Veggi; Edy Veggi Soares; Felix Lopez Bress; Jeferson Dias Castedo; Patrike Noro de Castro; Rodrigo Castrillon Lara Veiga; Tiago Mendonça Campos; and Willian Leite Rondon.

They are accused of being part of a criminal organization that, according to the MPF, would have operated between at least 2018 and December 2022. Some of those accused are also responsible for episodes of mercury smuggling.

In the second complaint, the Court made defendants José Ribamar Silva Oliveira, Yussuf Jabbar Torre do Valle, Antônio Jorge Silva Oliveira and Solange Luizão Barbuio Barbosa, in addition to the legal entities Cooperativa dos Garimpeiros do Vale do Rio Peixoto (Coogavepe), Jotage Comercial e Industrial Ltda. and AJS Oliveira Comércio de Ferragens Ltda.

In this second case, the defendants are identified as buyers, intermediaries or operators of mercury allegedly supplied by the so-called Veggi Group for use in mining in the Peixoto de Azevedo region.

Reproduction

Arnoldo Veggi is appointed by the MPF as leader of the alleged scheme

The MPF attributes to the accused, depending on the case, crimes of smuggling, irregular exploitation of raw materials belonging to the Union and environmental crimes related to the use and storage of toxic substances.

In addition to the criminal convictions, the MPF requested billions of dollars in compensation for the damage that would have been caused by the scheme.

In the first complaint, against Arnoldo Veggi and the other 13 defendants, the Public Prosecutor's Office asked for a minimum value of R$1.5 billion to be set to repair collective environmental and public health damages.

In the second action, against the alleged buyers and operators in Mato Grosso, the request for compensation is even greater: R$2.468 billion.

The MPF also requested the forfeiture of proceeds and profits from crimes, in addition to seized or seized assets, rights and values. In the second case, the seized mercury was also requested to be safely disposed of, at the defendants' expense.

The judge, however, left the analysis of these requests until the sentence or another appropriate procedural moment.

Scheme leader

Arnoldo Veggi is appointed by the MPF as leader, intellectual mentor and main executor of the alleged criminal organization.

According to the accusation, the businessman was responsible for coordinating the import of mercury, controlling companies used by the group, negotiating with suppliers and buyers and organizing the distribution of the product to mining sites.

He is also the defendant with the highest number of individual smuggling charges: 36 episodes.

According to the MPF, the mercury sold by the organization would originate in countries such as Bolivia, China and Mexico and would enter Brazil clandestinely before being distributed to buyers.

The accusation maintains that the organization had a division of tasks, with members responsible for financing, logistics, transportation, storage, sales intermediation and movement of resources.

Arnoldo's nucleus

Ali Veggi Atala is appointed as one of those responsible for the connection with Bolivia, participating in negotiations with foreign suppliers and in the logistics for the entry of mercury into the country.

Ali Veggi Atala Junior, in turn, would have acted as a financier and financial supporter of the organization. The MPF mentions bank transfers, card loans and transactions involving companies identified as linked to the group.

Alberto Veggi Atala is appointed as a financial operator and coordinator of international routes, with participation in negotiations for the acquisition of mercury in China, Colombia and Bolivia.

Edgar dos Santos Veggi would have served as strategic manager and financier, while Edy Veggi Soares would have participated in financing acquisitions, sending resources abroad and storing the product.

André Ponciano Luiz, “Magrão”, would have worked in transport logistics, including the manufacture of compartments designed to hide mercury.

Patrike Noro de Castro is named as one of the group's main commercial intermediaries. He would have looked for buyers, negotiated prices, coordinated deliveries and advised on ways to camouflage the product. The MPF attributes 14 episodes of smuggling to him.

Felix Lopez Bress would have been responsible for operational logistics, including inventory management, mercury fractionation and organizing deliveries. He is responsible for six episodes of smuggling.

Jeferson Dias Castedo, known as “Jefinho”, would have worked in the financial and administrative area, controlling bank accounts and participating in the issuance of tax documents.

Edilson Rodrigues de Campos is identified as responsible for negotiating and reselling mercury and issuing tax documents that, according to the MPF, presented a different description of the merchandise actually sold.

Rodrigo Castrillon Lara Veiga, who worked in the Cáceres region, would have worked as a middleman and transporter,