The owners of the Soldiers brand, known as the “creatine kings”, were the targets of a Civil Police operation that resulted in the seizure of tons of dietary supplements this month. The police confirmed that an analysis of the material was requested and that, so far, the result has not been ready.
The brand’s defense points out flaws in the foundations of the investigation and questions the use of links to the “Reclame Aqui” complaints website as a justification for police actions. Furthermore, a report from the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office requested clarification on the crimes investigated and the alleged victims.
“The police authority must clarify the crimes being investigated, when they were committed, who the alleged victims are, as well as other circumstances that allow delimiting the object of the investigation”, stated the public prosecutor on November 19.
The police reported this Thursday (28) that the objective of the investigation is to investigate crimes of ideological forgery, criminal association and money laundering. Deic (State Department of Criminal Investigations) investigators also allege that the products seized in the operation did not have any type of documentation authorizing production.
Operation chronology
The investigation began on October 10 with a search at a Soldiers store, located in a shopping mall, in the East Zone of São Paulo. Tax documents, a cell phone, as well as four jars of products were seized at the scene.
Based on the documents seized, in early November, new searches were carried out at addresses related to the group.
In Jundiaí, in the interior of São Paulo, agents inspected a company that packaged the brand’s supplements. Employees reported that there were no formal contracts or documentation for the products. There, the supplements were seized and the place was sealed by the Health Surveillance.
Subsequently, another warehouse in the East Zone was the subject of a warrant. There, hundreds of pallets of Soldiers products were found and confiscated.
In a statement, the Soldiers group stated that the sites inspected belong to independent service providers, denying any corporate link or irregularity.
More accusations and disputes
Police reports that supported the search requests at addresses linked to the brand point to the rapid growth of Soldiers as an indication of possible irregularity.
In an interview included in the investigation report, the brand’s CEO, Yuri Abreu, stated that it earned around R$150 million in 2023, with a projection of R$250 million for 2024. For investigators, the figures stand out amid to an adverse economic scenario for the industrial sector.
“These numbers are notable, especially considering that the state of São Paulo presented negative rates (-3%) in its indicator in the industrial sector”, says the report.
In the documents that support the requests authorized by the court, the police also state that the operation against Soldiers originated from a previous investigation of another company in the sector.
The defense tried to access the documents from this investigation to understand the beginning of the process, but the request was denied on the grounds that the Soldiers group was not part of the initial process.
Next steps
The police are still awaiting the results of the report on the seized products, which will determine the composition of all the material.
At the same time, investigators continue to look for evidence that led the police to tell the court that the group created companies to circumvent inspection systems, forming an alleged cartel.
The investigation continues with the civil police, which is within the deadline to respond to the Public Ministry’s questions.
Who are the kings of creatine
Soldiers Group’s partners are the couple Yuri Silveira de Abreu and Fabiula Freire, who call themselves the king and queen of creatine. Combined, the couple’s and the brand’s Instagram profiles have more than 300,000 followers. On social media, both partners, in addition to promoting the brand, share their daily lives, on luxury trips and publications that praise the brand’s advancement in the market.
Other Side
THE CNN Soldiers Nutrition reported that “it has all necessary licenses and authorizations and operates in a manner strictly aligned with applicable rules and regulations, with regular audits by the Health Surveillance.”
The company also highlighted that the last Health Surveillance inspection took place recently.
Regarding the investigation, Soldiers reported that the police representation was based on investigative procedures against other companies and that it believes the search and seizure carried out at the company’s factory was a “mistake”.
So far, according to the company, no evidence of irregularity has been identified. They also emphasize that the places closed by the Health Surveillance are third-party companies.
This content was originally published in “Reis da creatine” case: defense questions investigation based on complaints website on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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