Inside Milton Leite's Arrest Warrant: What You Need to Know

What Happened

São Paulo civil police have launched a massive anti-corruption sweep, thrusting one of the city's most powerful political figures into the spotlight. Former City Council President Milton Leite (União Brasil) is now considered a fugitive after police failed to locate him at his home during "Operation Vectura Corrupta" on Thursday.

The operation targets the deep infiltration of the First Capital Command (PCC) cartel into the public administration and São Paulo’s collective transport network. In response to the raid, Leite released a statement denying he is running from the law. He claimed he is currently traveling and promised to turn himself in to authorities within 24 hours to prove his innocence.

Inside the PCC Cartel Investigation

According to investigators, the PCC's influence over the city's bus routes was not just a backdoor operation—it allegedly had top-tier political backing. Police suspect that strategic decisions regarding transport companies linked to the cartel required the knowledge or political approval of Milton Leite.

Authorities are also investigating Leite's alleged "de facto" ownership of Transwolff, a prominent bus company previously targeted for cartel connections. Operation Vectura Corrupta identifies 12 public transport companies believed to be directly or indirectly controlled by the PCC, highlighting a systemic attempt to siphon public funds and control transit infrastructure.

The operation has also led to other high-profile arrests, including:

• Levi dos Santos Oliveira: The former president of SPTrans, who allegedly held regular meetings to protect cartel-linked transport interests.
• Danilo Marco Morgado Silva: A former mayoral candidate for Praia Grande, whose campaign was allegedly funded by the criminal organization.

Why It Matters

This crackdown is the culmination of a multi-year investigation. It began in August 2024 with "Operation Decurio" and progressed through "Operation Contaminatio" in April 2026, which exposed a PCC-run financial technology firm (fintech) that laundered billions of reals.

For years, Milton Leite was a towering figure in São Paulo politics, serving seven terms as a councilman and presiding over the Municipal Chamber four times. Today, he remains the local president of the União Brasil party. The allegations represent a stunning turn of events and expose the staggering scale of organized crime's grip on South America's largest metropolis.