CADE finds individual guilty of cartel in airport procurements

On 4 March, the Tribunal of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) convicted an individual of bid rigging in Infraero procurements for the acquisition of cafeteria services in Brazilian airports.

The bid rigging was carried out with bid suppression strategies, cover bidding, and blocking in in-person auctions for airport cafeterias in the cities of Campo Grande/MS, São Paulo/SP (Congonhas), Florianópolis/SC, Maceió/AL, Recife/PE, and São José dos Pinhais/PR, from May to November 2014.

The case, arising from the Administrative Proceeding no. 08700.007278/2015-17, was adjudicated by CADE in 2022, when the cartel was identified and the defendants were convicted. In 2023, following a request for reconsideration by the companies involved, the Tribunal determined the launch of proceedings to ascertain the specific liability of the respondent.

Later in 2025, the Office of the Superintendent General at CADE (SG) issued an expert opinion recommending his conviction, on the grounds that the conduct constituted an infringement of the economic order. This understanding was followed by the Office of the Attorney General (PFE/CADE) and by the Federal Prosecution Services (MPF/CADE).

According to Commissioner José Levi, rapporteur of the case, the evidence indicates that the manager was the key figure of the conduct. Although the companies were registered in the names of third parties, the respondent effectively controlled Alimentare Serviços de Restaurante e Lanchonete and was the main beneficiary of the collusion.

The Tribunal unanimously followed this understanding and convicted the respondent, imposing a fine and prohibiting him from participating in procurements conducted by the federal, state, municipal, and Federal District’s public administration, as well as by entities of their respective indirect administration, for a 5-year period.

Access Case no. 08700.005335/2025-03