Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato)

Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) is a major anti-corruption investigation in Brazil that uncovered a vast scheme involving kickbacks and money laundering. It focused on Petrobras, the state oil company, revealing that politicians, business executives, and executives colluded to inflate contract costs and siphon off billions of dollars. The operation utilized forensic audits, wiretaps, and legal proceedings to expose systemic corruption, leading to numerous arrests, fines, and reforms across political and corporate sectors. It is one of the largest corruption probes in Latin America's history, highlighting widespread abuse of power and corruption in Brazil’s public and private sectors.