Brazil Senator Ciro Nogueira investigated for $19 million farm sale to UAE offshore tied to Banco Master bribes

Brazilian Federal Police are probing Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP‑PI) after he sold a 2,410‑hectare farm in Pedro II, Piauí, for about R$ 18.7 million to Arraf International, an offshore company registered in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The offshore was created two months before the March 27 2025 transaction and is controlled by the senator’s lawyer, Gustavo Frazão.

Investigators say the sale may be linked to alleged bribes received by the senator from Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, who is accused of paying roughly R$ 6 million to Nogueira in 2024‑25. The money is suspected to have financed legislative actions favorable to the bank, including the so‑called “Master amendment” that expanded coverage of the Credit Guarantee Fund. The probe also implicates the senator’s brother, Raimundo Nogueira, who allegedly acted as a front for additional offshore dealings involving real‑estate sales.

The case could affect Nogueira’s re‑election prospects and broader trust in Brazil’s political institutions.