Oranges from the bus scheme were negotiating rifles and cocaine, investigation reveals

The court ruling that authorized Thursday's (17th) operation to investigate links between transportation companies and the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) cites the existence of conversations in which alleged front men for the criminal faction discuss the negotiation of rifles, bulletproof vests, and approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine base paste.

The document makes clear, however, that this is an ongoing investigation, with no conclusions or convictions.

The dialogues are attributed to Claudionor Aparecido Sabino Tomaz, a partner of José Daniel Satilite at Translider, a bus company based in Cubatão (SP). According to police, both allegedly acted as PCC front men in the transportation sector.

In one of the conversations between him and other individuals under investigation, according to the ruling, there are references to the expression "oil to produce white gold" — which investigators identified as a reference to drugs — along with concerns about possible arrests. According to the investigation, they feared being replaced by other front men.

Folha is attempting to locate the legal representatives of Claudionor Tomaz and José Daniel. The reporters were unable to find contact phone numbers for Translider. They reached out via the three email addresses listed on the company's website, but the messages bounced back.

According to the ruling, both received orders from a third party referred to as "the boss," and there are messages in which they claim to be front men for businessman Paulo Sirqueira Korek Farias, owner of A2 Transportes and president of Esporte Clube Água Santa.

Both Paulo and A2 were targets of Thursday's operation on suspicion of money laundering for the PCC. Both deny the allegations.

"A2 Transportes has never had any involvement with the PCC and has never laundered money. Our revenues come exclusively from contracts and payments made by the City Hall for the services we provide," stated Korek.

Without providing further details, he said he believes the operation has a "strong political component" and that A2 Transportes "will continue cooperating with the institutions responsible for the investigation and strictly respecting due process of law."

The Ricardo Nunes (MDB) administration, in turn, declared that it has created a working group to investigate contracts between the municipality and the companies under investigation.

In the case of A2, the administration said it is considering an intervention decree for the company along the same lines as those carried out with Transwolff and UpBus, also targets of operations over suspected ties to the PCC.

Named Operation Vectura Corrupta, Thursday's operation investigates whether companies providing public transportation services in municipalities in the state of São Paulo came to be managed by faction members after winning public tenders.

The investigation also targets suspicions of corruption involving public servants and PCC involvement in campaign financing during the 2024 elections and this year's elections.

In total, 16 people were subject to arrest warrants under a ruling that also authorized searches at 18 addresses in the municipalities of São Paulo, Santana de Parnaíba, São Bernardo do Campo, Diadema, Santos, Praia Grande, and Cubatão. The warrants were issued by the 8th Criminal Law Chamber of the São Paulo Court of Justice and by the State Court for Guarantees in Cases of Criminal Organizations and Money Laundering.

One of the targets is former city councilman Milton Leite (União Brasil), the longest-serving member of the São Paulo City Council. According to the court, he would be the "de facto owner" of Transwolff, a company accused of laundering money for the PCC, and is "nominally cited on several occasions as directly responsible for the operation of some of the companies controlled" by the criminal faction.

He was not located by investigators at his addresses. Speaking to Folha by phone, Leite said he was outside the capital and stated he would turn himself in within 24 hours. "I am organizing myself with my lawyers," he declared. Leite denies all accusations.

"I vehemently deny it. I don't know anyone from the PCC in this life," he said.

According to him, his relationship with the transportation sector was institutional, at the request of then-mayor Bruno Covas, and there is "no possibility whatsoever" of him being the owner of the company, which, he says, brings together 600 cooperative members. Transwolff also denies the accusation.

See below some points from the ruling:

What is attributed to Milton Leite

- He allegedly has ties to bus companies identified as being controlled by the PCC.

- He would be directly responsible for the operation of some companies controlled by the faction.

- Military police officers allegedly stated that he would be the de facto owner of Transwolff.

- He is being investigated for possible involvement with the criminal organization, though the document does not detail other crimes.

What Milton Leite states

- He denies any connection to the PCC and the commission of any crime.

- He states he will turn himself in to police.

Main findings about the PCC

- The PCC allegedly controls 12 of the 22 public transit companies in the capital.

- The faction reportedly uses front men to manage companies and conceal their true controllers.

- Bidding processes would be rigged, with the payment of bribes and division of the amounts obtained.

- Bus companies would facilitate business dealings, commissions and financial transactions of the criminal organization.

- The influence would reach public officials, politicians and electoral campaigns connected to the contracts.

- The scheme would involve Translider, A2, Otrantur and Transbellaflor, among other companies under investigation.

- The operation would extend to São Paulo, Cubatão, Leme, Itanhaém and São Vicente.

Decisions taken

- Temporary detention for 30 days of 13 suspects. In a prior ruling at first instance, the arrest of three other suspects had already been authorized.

- Search and seizure at addresses linked to 14 suspects.

- Access to data from cell phones and electronic devices seized during the investigations.

- Rejection, for now, of the freezing of real estate, vehicles, aircraft and watercraft.

Source: São Paulo State Court of Justice (TJ-SP) ruling