Two criminal organizations involved in the diversion of public resources and illicit financing of electoral campaigns in the 2024 municipal elections, in Maranhão, are targets of investigations by Operation Hidden Fund, launched this Wednesday (10), by the Federal Police (PF) Federal police officers discovered that the criminal scheme involved companies holding contracts with Maranhão city halls to divert public resources that were deposited in these companies' bank accounts. “The two groups operated with the help of an employee from a bank in São Luís.” Related news: TSE postpones decision on suspension of voting poll for president. Rio de Janeiro parties have until the 30th to deliver accounts for 2025. The investigations identified financial movements that reached peaks in the weeks immediately preceding the election. According to the PF, “the atypical movements totaled almost R$10 million”. “In just one of the centers investigated, the amounts transferred for illicit transfers totaled approximately R$2 million.” Money laundering According to investigations, the scheme used oranges to launder the money. “The funds were withdrawn from the companies’ accounts and deposited in orange accounts.” “Informal slush funds spreadsheets and files were identified that explicitly dealt with the logistics of delivering values ​​and monitoring the police presence in the vicinity of the bank,” informed the PF. Beneficiaries The investigations have so far identified 15 candidates benefiting from the criminal scheme or recipients of illicit transfers. “The transfers were spread across servers.” The operation was determined by the Regional Electoral Court of Maranhão. 25 search and seizure warrants were executed, in addition to the removal of banking and tax secrecy from those investigated. The judicial measure also determined the removal of a public official and the seizure of assets worth R$4 million. “Those investigated may be indicted for the crimes of electoral fraud, money laundering, criminal organization, active and passive corruption, embezzlement of public resources and other crimes against public administration”, informed the PF.