Milton Leite denies connection with the PCC and says he will turn himself in to police within 24 hours

Former city councilman Milton Leite (União Brasil), former president of the São Paulo City Council, denied any connection to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and said he will turn himself in to police within 24 hours.

On Thursday (17), a joint operation by the Civil Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office executed arrest warrants against suspects accused of involvement with the criminal faction. Leite is the target of a temporary arrest warrant issued by the court. He was not found at any of his registered addresses.

The court ruling authorizing the operation, signed by judge Sérgio Ribas, states that Leite was "the de facto owner" of Transwolff, a company accused of laundering money for the PCC. Transwolff denies the accusation.

In a phone conversation with Folha, the former councilman stated he is outside São Paulo and is not a fugitive. "I will turn myself in within 24 hours. I am organizing myself with my lawyers," he said. Leite denied all accusations, including that he was the owner of the bus company Transwolff.

"I vehemently deny it. I don't know anyone from the PCC in this life. My relationship with the sector (of transportation) was institutional, at the request of then-Mayor Bruno Covas, including during negotiations over a strike in 2019. There is absolutely no way I could be the owner [of Transwolff]. I never even owned a car. Transwolff has 600 cooperative members — how can I be the owner of a group of 600 cooperative members?" he said.

The operation targets suspicions that bus companies providing public transportation services in municipalities across São Paulo state came to be administered by faction members following the awarding of public contracts. There are also suspicions of corruption of public officials.

Milton Leite's name had previously appeared in an inquiry by the Military Police Internal Affairs division that pointed to alleged connections with officers arrested for providing private security escorts to company executives. The judge's ruling cites these testimonies as grounds for the former councilman's arrest warrant.

In February, Leite was referred to as "boss" by Military Police Sergeant Nereu Aparecido Alves in a message sent to Cícero de Oliveira, a director at Transwolff.

In a statement, the administration of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) said that the intervention ordered by the city government at Transwolff in April 2024 was a firm and decisive measure to protect the municipal transportation system. "From the outset of the investigations, the city hall acted with rigor, including terminating the contract in order to preserve the public interest and ensure that the population would not be harmed."

"The operation carried out this Thursday (17) reinforces the gravity of the facts that prompted the measures adopted by the City Hall. The administration is fully cooperating with the Public Prosecutor's Office, providing all necessary documents and clarifications."

Background

Milton Leite served as city councilman for seven terms, from 1997 to 2024.

In recent months, Leite's social media activity has centered on campaigning for his sons — Alexandre Leite, who is running for state deputy, and Milton Leite Filho, who is running for federal deputy. Alexandre served as Secretary of Institutional Relations under Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB), a position he left to run in the October elections.

Although he is no longer part of the City Council's day-to-day activities, Milton Leite remains politically active. In November 2025, for example, Folha reported that he had summoned members of his caucus to reinforce his desire for his godson Silvão Leite (União) to take over the presidency of the chamber. In December, councilman Ricardo Teixeira (União), who is closer to the mayor, was reelected to the position.

In June 2025, the Alesp (São Paulo State Legislative Assembly) awarded Milton Leite the Collar of Honor for Legislative Merit, considered the house's highest distinction.

The collar was presented "in recognition of Leite's contributions on issues such as the preservation of watersheds, urban development and housing, with a focus on the outskirts of São Paulo, particularly in the southern zone," as described in the official publication on the assembly's website.

On the occasion, the politician referenced his humble origins as a bread seller in the M'Boi Mirim neighborhood. When he joined the City Council, he served as a councilman for consecutive terms and served as its president for six years.

"A political career must be paved by one very important thing: your word. Try not to give your word, but if you do, honor it and stand by it," he said at the time, according to the Alesp's records.