Brazilian Federal Police executed 19 search and seizure warrants in Rio de Janeiro to investigate money laundering and illegal contracts [1].
The operation targets high-ranking figures and political candidates, signaling a crackdown on the intersection of organized crime and public office in the region. The probe focuses on the "cigarette mafia," a network involved in the smuggling and illegal sale of tobacco products.
This latest action marks the fifth phase [1] of Operation Unha e Carne. Officers focused their efforts in Rio de Janeiro, including the city of Belford Roxo, where the investigation is centered. The police are specifically examining the activities of Márcio Canella, the former mayor of Belford Roxo and a current pre-candidate for the Senate in Rio de Janeiro [1], [2].
Investigators are looking into allegations of money laundering and the procurement of illegal contracts linked to the cigarette smuggling ring [1], [2]. The current phase of the investigation was triggered after authorities seized a list of officials from the home of a known contrabandist [1], [2].
While the current phase focuses on the political connections of the network, earlier stages of the investigation established the scale of the financial crimes. In the initial phase of the probe, authorities seized approximately R$ 800 thousand [3].
Reports regarding the exact timing of the operation's launch vary between sources. One report said the action was launched on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 [3], while another suggests a different date in June [3].
The Federal Police have not released a full list of all individuals targeted by the 19 warrants [1], but the focus on Canella highlights the investigation's shift toward the political sphere.
“The operation targets high-ranking figures and political candidates.”
The targeting of a Senate pre-candidate during an active investigation into organized crime suggests that Brazilian authorities are uncovering a systemic link between municipal governance and smuggling networks. By focusing on money laundering and illegal contracts, the Federal Police are attempting to move beyond the street-level seizure of contraband to dismantle the financial and political infrastructure that allows the cigarette mafia to operate with perceived impunity.
