Búzios tourism officials arrested in maritime party corruption probe

The municipal subsecretary of Tourism in Armação dos Búzios, Sérgio Ferreira dos Santos, and the city's former traffic and transport coordinator, Igenes Lopes Santos Filho (known as Geninho), were arrested preventively on 14 July. The operation, led by the Grupo de Atuação Especializada de Combate ao Crime Organizado (Gaeco) of the Ministério Público do Rio de Janeiro, also targeted two additional suspects.

Investigators allege the group formed an organized‑crime ring that demanded bribes of R$ 1,000‑3,000 from event organizers to authorize boat parties without the required permits and to avoid municipal inspections. At least 38 instances of such corruption were identified, spanning from January 2021 to March 2026. The four accused face charges of organized crime, corruption and money‑laundering. A court ordered the suspension of their public duties, the seizure of assets up to R$ 500,000 per person, and the execution of search and seizure warrants at their residences.

Búzios, a prominent tourist destination on Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro coast, is the focus of the investigation, which underscores ongoing efforts to combat municipal corruption.