Police in São Paulo are treating Milton Leite, a former president of the São Paulo City Council, as a fugitive after officers went to his home on Thursday (17) to arrest him in Operation Vectura Corrupta, a joint action by the state prosecution service and the civil police into the suspected infiltration of the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital), Brazil's largest criminal faction, into public office and the city's bus system. Leite holds a 30-day temporary arrest warrant. A household employee told officers he left on Wednesday night (16), saying he had a campaign commitment.
The operation is executing 16 arrest warrants and 18 search and seizure warrants in seven cities: São Paulo, Santana de Parnaíba, São Bernardo do Campo, Diadema, Santos, Praia Grande and Cubatão. The warrants were issued by the 8th Criminal Chamber of the São Paulo State Court of Justice and by the state court that guarantees due process in organized crime and money laundering cases. Investigators suspect the targets are members of faction nuclei holding leadership roles. The case is run by the drug investigations police station of Mogi das Cruzes, with support from Gaeco, the organized crime task force of the state prosecution service.
What the investigation alleges
Prosecutors say "at least 12 passenger bus companies operating in the city of São Paulo would be controlled directly or indirectly by the PCC", some of them already covered by earlier inquiries, "including indictments already filed". Reporting by GloboNews found that strategic decisions at these companies would depend on Leite's knowledge or political approval, a conclusion drawn from wiretaps of intermediaries and from other proceedings into his decision-making role. The court filing that supported the warrants cites Leite as directly responsible for running some of the companies and quotes testimony by military police officers, given in a case before the Military Court of Justice, describing him as the de facto owner of Transwolff. The companies named are Viação Transcap, Alfa Rodobus, Transwolff, A2 Transportes, Imperial Transportes, Move Bus, Pêssego Transportes, Allianz Transportes, Transunião, Qualibus Transportes, Norte Bus and Spencer Transportes.
How the case got here
Vectura Corrupta is an offshoot of Operation Decúrio, launched in August 2024, which mapped a communications network the PCC kept among its members, including prisoners, and alleged leadership of the Sintonia Restrita and Sintonia dos Gravatas nuclei, the latter made up of lawyers who, police say, worked for the faction. Also in 2024, prosecutors ran Operation Fim da Linha, which targeted Transwolff and led to the arrest of its then president, Luiz Carlos Efigênio Pacheco, known as Pandora, on suspicion of ties to the faction. Police say Alfa Rodobus and Sancetur took over routes previously run by Transwolff and UpBus after that operation. Investigators are also examining suspected PCC funding of campaigns in the 2024 municipal elections and in the race under way this year.
Other arrests and the defense
Also arrested were Levi dos Santos Oliveira, former head of SPTrans, the city agency that manages the bus system, and Danilo Marco Morgado Silva, who ran for mayor of Praia Grande in 2024 and had his candidacy for state deputy struck down. Investigators say Levi held regular meetings with José Daniel Satilite, described as one of the central figures of the scheme, to handle faction interests in the sector after Fim da Linha. Police describe a "strong link" between Danilo and PCC members and indications that his 2024 campaign was financed by the organization.
Leite served seven terms as a city councilman, from 1997 to 2024, led the council four times and left public life last year. He now chairs União Brasil in the city of São Paulo and in July was elected state president of the União Progressista federation, formed with the PP. He is an investigative target, not a defendant, and is presumed innocent. In a statement, he denied the allegations:
"I am traveling, I am not a fugitive, and I will turn myself in to the authorities within 24 hours. I will prove my innocence against all accusations."
The temporary arrest warrant against Leite runs for 30 days, within which the prosecution service may seek an extension or, once the inquiry concludes, file charges with the organized crime court. The known next step is Leite's surrender to the authorities, which he announced would happen within 24 hours.