The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Ceará (MP-CE) conducted Operation Final Price this Friday to investigate an alleged cartel in the fuel resale market in Fortaleza, Ceará. The action was initiated following a formal representation by MP-CE, which identified indications of coordinated conduct among economic agents operating in the capital’s fuel sector.
Following the submission, CADE’s General Superintendence (SG/CADE) carried out an econometric analysis using data from the National Petroleum Agency (ANP). The study sought to detect atypical market behavior consistent with potential collusion. Based on the joint assessment conducted by CADE and MP-CE, the judiciary issued more than 20 search and seizure warrants, executed with the participation of 15 CADE officials, public prosecutors, MP-CE staff, and civil police officers.
Upon completion of the investigative phase, SG/CADE will prepare a technical report and forward the case to the CADE Tribunal for adjudication. Should the Tribunal confirm the existence of an infringement of the economic order, the parties involved may face substantial sanctions. Companies may be fined 0.1% to 20% of their gross revenue from the previous year in the line of business where the violation occurred. Individuals are subject to fines ranging from R$ 50,000 to R$ 2 billion (approximately €9,000 to €360 million, depending on the exchange rate at the time of publication).
The operation forms part of CADE’s renewed institutional focus on the liquid fuels sector, as established in Ordinance No. 379/2025. The initiative underscores the authority’s commitment to enhancing market diagnostics, refining investigative methodologies, and intensifying enforcement actions aimed at curbing anti-competitive practices in the fuel distribution and retail chain.