Bolsonaro-registered gun seized from army sergeant in DF traffic stop

On June 15, 2026, police in Taguatinga, Federal District stopped an official vehicle driven by Army Sergeant Estácio Leite da Silva Filho. Officers discovered two firearms: an institutional weapon and a second gun registered to former President Jair Bolsonaro that lacked the required registration certificate. The sergeant said the Bolsonaro gun had suffered a mechanical malfunction and that he was transporting it for maintenance, planning to return it the next day.

The sergeant was taken to the 21st Police Station, later released, and the case was transferred to the 17th Police Station for investigation. Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) has asked Bolsonaro’s defense for an explanation. Bolsonaro is currently serving a humanitarian house‑arrest sentence due to health concerns, and no court order has specifically barred him from possessing legal firearms.