INSS CPI determines arrest of president of entity that handled R$410 million

The president of the INSS CPI, senator Carlos Viana (Podemos-MG), ordered the arrest, in the early hours of this Tuesday (4), of Abraão Lincoln Ferreira da Cruz, president of the Brazilian Confederation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Workers (CBPA). The request was made by the rapporteur, deputy Alfredo Gaspar (União-AL). It is the CPI’s third arrest.

“On a series of occasions, the deponent, being a witness, made a false statement, denied and kept silent about the truth,” said Viana. “In the name of the retirees, almost 240 thousand that the CBPA deceived, Mr. Abraão Lincoln da Cruz, you are under arrest.”

To substantiate the request, Gaspar mentioned four episodes. The first was the silence maintained about meeting Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, Careca from INSS, which would have been characterized as an attempt to silence the truth; the second was the statement about the relationship with Gabriel Negreiros. Abraão Lincoln said he had an “institutional” relationship. The rapporteur pointed out that the relationship was closer.

Also read

CPI and factions as terrorists: understand dispute between opposition and government in Congress

Chamber and Senate put public security issue at the forefront

INSS CPI: president of association denies that entity is considered “ghost”

Investigation finds diversion of R$221 million in benefits by CBPA

The third case was when he failed to inform that Adelino Rodrigues Junior had broad powers to move CBPA resources. “In both cases, he made false statements and kept silent about the truth,” says Gaspar. The fourth case, finally, refers to a question about Abraão Lincoln’s departure from the National Confederation of Fishermen and Aquaculturists (CNPA). He said he had left due to resignation – Senator Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES) showed that he left due to court order.

“On four occasions, the deponent, as a witness in this House, failed to tell the truth, made a false statement or was silent on the truth. And because of this, I ask Your Excellency, out of respect for the Brazilian people and parliamentarians, that the deponent be arrested in the act”, asked Gaspar.

Shortly after the start of the session, when the deponent decided to remain silent for all questions, Gaspar threatened the arrest warrant. “At the end of the testimony, I will choose exactly the reasons for the request for arrest in the act for false testimony for keeping the truth silent. For me, it doesn’t change the effect much. I will in no way question why he remains silent on questions that don’t incriminate him. This will perhaps help me at the end of the work”, stated the rapporteur.

At the same time, the confederation had business with companies owned by Antônio Camilo Antunes, Careca of the INSS, and financial relationships with politicians from states such as Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Maranhão. In addition to regional links, it has a strong presence in Brasília. She has a seat on the federal government’s National Aquaculture and Fisheries Council (Conape). The representative is state deputy Juscelino Miguel dos Anjos (Republicanos-PB).

CBPA is one of those investigated by the Federal Police in Operation Without Discount, launched in April. The entity and its president had assets blocked. For the INSS CPI, the fishing confederation is one of the “axes of the criminal architecture revealed by Operation Without Discount and responsible for an estimated financial impact of R$ 221.8 million withdrawn in a persistent and systemic way from the benefits of retirees and pensioners”.

Another suspicion raised in the Coaf report concerns the movement of R$410 million in the account opened at a Banco do Brasil branch in Ceilândia, on the outskirts of Brasília, between May 2024 and May 2025. During the period, there were R$205.5 million in inflows and R$204.4 million in outflows.

In addition to Abrãao, Lincoln arrested Carlos Roberto Ferreira Lopes, president of the National Confederation of Family Farmers and Rural Family Entrepreneurs (Conafer), and Rubens Oliveira Costa, appointed by the Federal Police as an intermediary for Careca from the INSS – both for false testimony.