Federal Probe Escalates With Arrest of Márcio Canella and Weapons Search at Bolsonaro Residence

Overview

• Police arrested Márcio Canella, former mayor of Belford Roxo and União Brasil’s Rio leader, after agents found a .556 rifle in his car during the sixth phase of Operação Unha e Carne.
• The investigation, built on a Coaf report showing roughly R$7.6 billion in movements linked to a network of fuel stations, has led to 19 search warrants, luxury-vehicle seizures, cash confiscations and court orders to freeze company assets.
• STF minister Alexandre de Moraes authorized a Federal Police search of Jair Bolsonaro’s Brasília residence after defense filings contained inconsistent information about weapons registered to him, and Bolsonaro’s lawyers said nothing was seized.
• Canella’s arrest on weapons charges increases pressure on the opposition federation in Rio and may prompt the PL–União Brasil–PP coalition to replace his Senate bid to avoid further electoral damage.
• Investigators say the probe targets a wider network of public agents, police officers and business operators; prosecutors could bring charges for organized crime, money laundering and illegal contracting as evidence from seized assets is analyzed.