Brazil’s Federal Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office revealed a long-lived corruption scheme benefitting bus companies, politicians and officials. Businessmen fed a secret fund with the money from bus tickets paid in cash, and used it for kickbacks and illegal campaign donations. In return, the bus companies were able to design their routes, increase fares at will, receive tax benefits and enjoy advantages in bids and concessions - preventing rational allocation of resources to Rio’s transport system to reduce emissions.