Jaques Wagner faces Federal Police probe in Brazil over Banco Master cash

Brazilian Senator Jaques Wagner (PT‑BA) has denounced a Federal Police operation that seized US$55,000 and €33,000 in a hotel room, saying the agents staged a “patacoada” to damage him. Wagner claimed the money was stored in Senate‑branded envelopes, but investigators found no such envelopes and said the cash exceeds the total foreign‑currency allowances he has received since 2019.

The seizure, part of phase 9 of Operation Compliance Zero, is linked to a probe of alleged favoritism toward Banco Master involving businessman Augusto Lima, a partner of Daniel Vorcaro. Prosecutors allege Wagner asked Lima to purchase a R$2.5 million apartment for his daughter, obtain R$63 000 Taylor‑Swift concert tickets, and seek a R$22 million loan for his family’s company. Wagner has said he will reimburse the businessman and has stepped down from his Senate leadership role to focus on his defence.