Actions monitor the increase in prices and verify whether measures adopted by the Federal Government to reduce the impact of high fuel prices are reaching consumers.
The National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), affiliated with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), issued 39 notices to fuel stations in 21 states as part of Operation Heavy Cargo. Of these, 12 were delivered during on-site inspections carried out on Thursday (October 22) and Friday (October 23) in São Paulo (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ), in conjunction with the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the National Secretariat of Public Security (Senasp).
The other 27 were sent to fuel stations in 19 other states. The actions focus on analyzing the margins of sale, as well as verifying documentation and other possible irregularities.
The inspection is also important to monitor the effects of the measures adopted by the Federal Government to reduce the impact of high fuel prices on the domestic market. These include Decree No. 13,134, of October 9, 2026, which extended tax relief and subsidy measures for imported gasoline, ethanol and diesel. The actions of the agencies allow to track whether these effects are reflected in the formation of prices and reaching the consumer.
The operation is the second phase of the task force mobilized by the Federal Government to monitor the fuel market and investigate possible unjustified increases in the margins of sale, especially of liquid fuels.
Inspection in Rio de Janeiro
On Thursday (22nd), the teams inspected establishments in the neighborhoods of Pechincha, São Cristóvão, and Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
At the post located in Pechincha, the documentation analyzed so far indicated a 92% increase in the profit margin of ethanol and a 61% increase in regular gasoline. The establishment did not present some purchase receipts and was notified to complete the documentation.
In São Cristóvão, the documentation analyzed so far indicated a 38% increase in the margin of regular gasoline, 23% in additive gasoline, 67% in ethanol, and 10% in S10 diesel. The post was also notified to provide purchase receipts that were not available during the inspection.
In Barra da Tijuca, the establishment was notified to provide supplementary documentation. In this case, the analysis of the margins depends on the requested documentation.
Inspection in São Paulo
In São Paulo (SP), the teams inspected establishments in Barueri, Osasco, and the capital.
At the post located in the Água Branca neighborhood, the documentation analyzed so far indicated an increase of 49.73% in the price of regular gasoline and 26.48% in ethanol.
In Barueri, one of the establishments presented an increase of 18.08% in the price of regular gasoline and 26.17% in ethanol so far. The price of S10 diesel decreased by 14.72%. In another establishment, invoices for the purchase were not presented during the inspection, and the company was notified to provide the documentation.
In Osasco, the documentation analyzed so far indicated an increase of 16.51% in the price of regular gasoline and 33.80% in ethanol.
The information collected during the inspections will still be analyzed by the relevant authorities. The establishments notified will have a deadline to submit the requested documentation and exercise their right to defense in the relevant administrative proceedings.
Operation Heavy Cargo
Operation Heavy Cargo continues the actions that Senacon has been conducting since the beginning of the year to monitor the fuel market. The secretariat works in coordination with the state and municipal Procons, the ANP, and the Senasp. The objective is to investigate any unjustified increases in margins, especially for liquid fuels.
The analysis considers the purchase and resale prices and seeks to verify whether any changes in margins have an economic justification. The work is based on Article 39, paragraph X, of the Consumer Protection Code (CDC), which considers the increase in the price of products or services without just cause to be abusive.
The inspection also allows to monitor the evolution of prices after the measures adopted by the Federal Government in October. Decree No. 13.134/2026 zeroed out, for 30 days, the federal taxes on the import and sale of gasoline and its derivatives, extended the exemption of hydrated ethanol, and expanded economic support to producers and ethanol producer cooperatives. The norm also established additional support for importers of road diesel.
Integrated action
The Senacon maintains a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) with the ANP, which has joint operational bases in Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasília (DF), Manaus (AM), Porto Alegre (RS), Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and São Paulo (SP). The structure can support inspection actions in the capitals and, in specific situations, in municipalities in the interior near the bases.
The operation will continue in different states, according to market data, information shared by consumer protection agencies and identified demands during inspections.
Consumers can report to Procons and the ANP situations that indicate possible irregularities in the fuel market. At the ANP, complaints can be sent via the phone number 0800 970 0267 and through the Agency's digital channels, including theANP with You – Gas Stations.
To facilitate the analysis, it is recommended to provide the establishment, address, fuel, price, and date of occurrence, and, when available, to submit documents that contribute to the investigation, such as invoices and records of announced or practiced values.
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