Sumaré councilor arrested in drug trafficking investigation

Hélio Pereira da Silva, a city councilor and president of the Sumaré City Council, has been arrested as part of 'Operation Archimagus'. The investigation, conducted by the Integrated Force to Combat Organized Crime (Ficco) and the Federal Police, targets a suspected scheme involving the financing, storage, and distribution of narcotics across São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

The operation included two temporary arrest warrants and ten search and seizure warrants in locations such as Campinas, Sumaré, Vinhedo, and Jacutinga. Investigators believe a property in Jacutinga may have been used to store drugs prior to distribution.

Following the arrest, the Cidadania party suspended Silva from all party functions and stated it is cooperating with authorities. Financial records indicate that Silva, who is currently a candidate for federal deputy, reported a significant increase in wealth, with declared assets rising from R$ 201,899 in 2024 to R$ 1.13 million in 2026. The Sumaré City Council noted that the investigation is personal in nature and emphasized the presumption of innocence.