Last temporary detainees in meat scandal released

A Brazilian court has ordered the release of three of the suspects jailed as part of the Federal Police's Operation Weak Flesh. Rafael Nojiri Gonçalves, Antônio Garcez da Luz and Brandízio Dario Júnior were released with a ruling by Marcos Josegrei da Silva, the federal judge in charge of the operation.

They were the last prisoners still under 5-day temporary detention orders—the judge had extended custody of them by an additional five-day period. On March 22, the judge had already ordered the release of eight other temporary detainees.

Twenty-five people are under non-expiring custody orders. Businessman Nilson Alves Ribeiro is wanted by police.
 
Operation Weak Flesh

The purpose of the Federal Police's Operation Weak Flesh was a crackdown on alleged compliance breaches by food safety inspectors working for the Ministry of Agriculture and owners of rmeat processing plants in Paraná, Minas Gerais and Goiás states. Federal Police raids were launched on March 17.

Twenty-seven court orders were served as part of the operation, including 11 temporary detention, 77 bench arrests, and 194 search and seizure warrants. In total, 21 meat processing plants are targeted by investigations. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture has removed 33 inspectors from their activities.

Translated by Mayra Borges