Flight Scandal: Politicians and Businessman Under Investigation for Illegal Baggage

Federal Police probe a flight involving politicians and a businessman over irregular luggage. The case, involving a tax auditor and a Lava Jato figure, has reached the Supreme Court.

The Federal Police (PF) is investigating a flight chartered by businessman Fernando Oliveira Lima, known as “Fernandin OIG,” due to suspicions of smuggling or contraband related to the irregular entry of luggage into Brazil. The aircraft carried four federal parliamentarians, a former advisor with a history of investigations, and a contractor linked to Operation Lava Jato, generating controversy. The flight, which occurred in April 2025, departed from Saint Martin, in the Caribbean, and landed in São Roque (SP), with the inquiry already sent to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) due to the presence of authorities with privileged jurisdiction. A flight chartered by the businessman Fernando Oliveira Lima is under investigation by the Federal Police for suspected smuggling. Four federal parliamentarians – including the president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), and Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) – were on board, which led the case to the STF. A former advisor to Ciro Nogueira and a Lava Jato contractor were also on the passenger list, increasing scrutiny over the trip. The PF has not yet identified the owner of the luggage that was transported outside the X-ray, with indications of malfeasance on the part of a Federal Revenue auditor. The flight that became the subject of an inquiry, sent to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), was attended by the president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), and deputies Doutor Luizinho (PP-RJ)

and Isnaldo Bulhões (MDB-AL). Motta stated, through a note, that he “complied with all the protocols and determinations established in customs legislation” and awaits the manifestation of the Attorney General's Office (PGR). The other parliamentarians were contacted by the report, but had not commented so far. The space remains open for their positions. The parliamentarians traveled accompanied by spouses. In addition to them, other relevant names were on the passenger list, such as Victor Linhares de Paiva, a former parliamentary advisor to Ciro Nogueira. Paiva was the target of search and seizure in a development of Operation Carbono Oculto, launched in Piauí. Victor de Paiva worked as a parliamentary advisor to Ciro Nogueira in the Senate between April 2018 and June 2020, holding positions both in the personal office and in the party leadership, a function performed by the Piauí senator. Affiliated with Ciro Nogueira's PP since 2008, Paiva was elected a councilor of Teresina in 2024. At the beginning of the following year, he was appointed Secretary of Institutional Articulation in the administration of then-mayor Silvio Mendes (União). His resume also includes a period as an employee of Codevasf, the “state-owned company of the Centrão”. In March 2025, he announced his affiliation with União Brasil, articulated by Antonio Rueda, the party's president. Paiva was identified as the recipient of R$230,000 sent by an owner of a network of gas stations that allegedly had a relationship with the PCC, which motivated the search and seizure against him. Additionally, a report published by revista piauí in July stated that he received, between December 2023 and September 2024, R$625,000 from Fernando Oliveira Lima, the owner of the aircraft under investigation. Fernando Oliveira Lima is known as “Fernandin OIG”, the acronym of his company. According to the PF, the group represents the 7Games, Betão and R7.BET platforms. He was present on the flight with the parliamentarians, which took place in April 2025, a period in which the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) of Bets was active in the Senate, with the participation of Ciro Nogueira. When contacted, Victor de Paiva did not respond to the report's contacts. Fernando Oliveira Lima stated that the luggage transported belonged to the flight commander. “I received the news and the image and called commander Jorge, he said that it was his personal items and that the disembarkation followed the entire normal process,” said the businessman. Another name on the passenger list is the contractor Fernando Cavendish, who was arrested by Lava Jato do Rio and made a plea bargain confessing payment of bribes to former governor Sergio Cabral and other politicians. Estadão contacted Cavendish, but he had not given a return by the publication of this text. The space remains open for its manifestation. The flight left the island of Saint Martin, a tax haven in the Caribbean, and landed on the night of April 20 last year at Catarina airport, in São Roque (SP), used for executive aviation. The PF's suspicions arose from an investigation into the corruption of a tax auditor, Marco Canella, who was indicted in another investigation for facilitating smuggling or contraband. Canella was contacted, but did not take a position either. In the specific case of the flight with the parliamentarians, Canella allowed an employee of the businessman to disembark at the airport and pass with seven pieces of luggage outside the X-ray. This procedure was recorded by the security cameras of the place. According to the Federal Police, in all flights inspected by Canella that day, the auditor checked all the luggage of all passengers. The only exception was with the bags of the pilot of “Fernandin OIG”. The investigation also narrates that, only during the disembarkation of the flight of the businessman from the bets sector, the auditor made frequent use of the cell phone. Canella was questioned by the X-ray operator, but gestured with his hands, “expressing banality and irrelevance”. The owners of the luggage that illegally passed through the X-ray have not yet been identified. As the flight came from a tax haven and the auditor had already been indicted for crimes of facilitating smuggling and contraband, the PF suspects that the content of the luggage may be illegal.

📝 Sobre este conteúdo Esta matéria foi adaptada e reescrita pela equipe editorial do TudoAquiUSA com base em reportagem publicada em Istoe . O texto foi modificado para melhor atender nosso público, mantendo a precisão factual. Veja o artigo original aqui.