Brazil's 'Livro E' operation smashes fake birth certificate ring: five arrested, 14 fugitives

Civil police in Brazil's Federal District (PCDF) launched “Operação Livro E” on Thursday, November 12, dismantling a criminal network that used fake birth certificates to obtain Brazilian identity cards and passports for foreign nationals. Officers executed 19 temporary arrest warrants and 13 search warrants in the Federal District, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, arresting five people, while 14 foreign suspects remain at large.

How the fake documents were made

According to police at a press conference, the network relied on current and former staff at a notary office (cartório) in Asa Sul, Brasília, who reused pages from cancelled birth records, inserted false information into the registry's systems and misused the court's digital seals to produce fake birth certificates. With those certificates, foreign nationals could obtain officially issued Brazilian identity cards (RG) and then passports. The operation is named after the “Livro E” registry book used to transcribe birth, marriage and death records of Brazilians registered abroad.

Those arrested and those on the run

Those arrested include notary staff, document agents known as “despachantes” and other suspects. The 14 fugitives are mostly foreign nationals of Arab origin, along with Russians, according to police, and some are reported to have fled to Turkey, Italy and Dubai. The National Association of Notaries and Registrars of Brazil (Anoreg-BR) said in a statement the same day that the notary office itself was not involved in the crime and that individual current and former employees had illegally exploited cancelled records, calling for those responsible to be held to account.

Investigation continues

Police said the investigation will expand to check other records that may have been affected, trace who authorised the false entries, and work with federal and international partners to prevent further misuse of the civil registry system. Charges under consideration include criminal organisation and document falsification. Police said claims about whether those involved are linked to crimes abroad have been referred to the Federal Police for verification and remain unconfirmed. (Photo: file photo of Brazilian Federal Police officers handling seized documents.)