Brazil's Federal Police has opened an inquiry into suspected smuggling on a private flight carrying Chamber President Hugo Motta, Senator Ciro Nogueira, and other lawmakers from the Caribbean to São Paulo in April 2025. The PF report notes luggage bypassed x-ray screening, and the case was sent to the Supreme Federal Court and the Attorney General's Office. Motta and the plane's owner deny any wrongdoing.
The private aircraft owned by Piaui businessman Fernando Oliveira Lima, in the online betting sector, departed from the Caribbean island of São Martinho and landed at Catarina Executive International Airport in São Roque (SP) on April 20, 2025. On board were Chamber President Hugo Motta, Senator Ciro Nogueira, Deputies Doutor Luizinho and Isnaldo Bulhões, and pilot José Jorge de Oliveira Júnior, an employee of the businessman.
According to a PF report obtained by Folha de S.Paulo, customs auditor Marco Antônio Canella allowed the pilot to pass the luggage outside the x-ray machine. The information was revealed by Folha and confirmed by case sources to Radar at Veja.
Due to the involvement of privileged forum authorities, the inquiry was sent to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which forwarded it to the Attorney General's Office (PGR) for review. The report states: “Não há, portanto, como descartar a possibilidade de envolvimento de um ou mais passageiros detentores de prerrogativa de foro nos delitos sob apuração nos presentes autos ou em outras práticas delitivas que porventura vierem a ser reveladas no curso das investigações”.
Hugo Motta and Fernando Oliveira Lima maintain that all legal procedures were followed upon arrival and that the items belonged to the pilot.
