Federal Police investigate Hugo Motta and Ciro Nogueira in smuggling inquiry

The Brazilian Federal Police have opened an inquiry to investigate suspected smuggling or contraband involving a private aircraft. The investigation has been transferred to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) after authorities confirmed that four members of Congress were passengers on the flight.

The passengers included the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta, Senator Ciro Nogueira, and Deputies Doutor Luizinho and Isnaldo Bulhões. The flight, which took place in April 2025, departed from Saint Martin and landed at the Catarina airport in São Paulo.

The aircraft belongs to Fernando Oliveira Lima, a businessman and partner in an online betting company who is currently under investigation by the Senate's Betting CPI. The suspicions arose from a separate investigation into a tax auditor, Marco Canella, who was allegedly involved in facilitating the illegal passage of luggage through airport security.