Brazil builder Odebrecht latest target in corruption probe

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian officials say they've carried out searches and detentions across the country linked to the huge Odebrecht construction company as part of their probe into corruption at the state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Prosecutors say Odebrecht had a specific sector in charge of illicit payouts. Officials said Tuesday the so-called "structured operations sector" continued to operate even after the corruption probe began two years ago.

Prosecutors in the case have alleged that businesses paid more than $2 billion in bribes to obtain contracts with the oil company, projects that later ballooned in cost.