Mayor of Sumaré's Chamber President arrested on suspicion of financing drug trafficking
Hélio Silva, alderman and president of the Municipal Chamber of Sumaré (SP), was arrested in a Federal Police operation on suspicion of financing a drug trafficking scheme. The Cidadania party suspended his duties immediately.
Alderman from Sumaré arrested in "Archimagus" operation against drug trafficking in Campinas region
The Federal Police arrested Hélio Silva, alderman and president of the Municipal Chamber of Sumaré (SP), suspected of financing a drug trafficking scheme in the Campinas region. The operation, dubbed "Archimagus", was executed on Wednesday (9) by the Integrated Force to Combat Organised Crime (Ficco) in Campinas. According to g1.globo.com, the Cidadania party suspended all of Silva's functions immediately following his arrest.
Known by the nickname "Mister M", the alderman allegedly used properties and businesses linked to him to support the criminal group. The Federal Police identified, between January and August 2026, episodes in which Silva allegedly received bags containing volumes that appeared to be money, subsequently transported in an official Chamber vehicle.
"The state directorate immediately suspended all of Hélio Silva's functions in the party and makes itself available to the authorities as appropriate. We respect the full legal defence of every citizen, but we do not tolerate any unlawful conduct. Cidadania is zero tolerance for crime", the party stated in a note.
Properties and businesses in the scheme
According to the Federal Police, addresses linked to the alderman were listed as headquarters of companies without business activities compatible with the locations. The investigation also points to evidence that resources of illegal origin were used to finance political-electoral activities, in addition to financing the purchase, storage and distribution of narcotics at trafficking points in the Sumaré region.
Among the targets of the operation is a plot of land that, according to the investigators, may have been used to store drugs.
Overall, two temporary arrest warrants were executed and ten search and seizure warrants were carried out in Campinas, Sumaré, Vinhedo (SP) and Jacutinga (MG). Ficco brought together agents from the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, Military and Civil Police of São Paulo, as well as municipal guards from Paulínia (SP).
Profile of the investigated
Born in Porteirinha (MG), Hélio Silva is 55 years old, married and father of eight children. He worked as a businessman in the retail trade sector for building materials, according to the Chamber of Sumaré. Silva is running for the office of federal deputy in the 2026 elections.
Elected alderman by Cidadania in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, he obtained 1,916 votes in the 2024 re-election. In January 2025, he was re-elected to the presidency of the Chamber for the 2025/2026 term.
Reaction from the Chamber of Sumaré
In a note, the Municipal Chamber of Sumaré stated that the investigation is "of a personal nature" and that, to date, there is no information relating the case to the institutional activities of the Legislative Power.
"The Municipal Chamber of Sumaré reaffirms its commitment to transparency and legality. Finally, it stresses that the alderman, like any citizen, is protected by the constitutional principle of the presumption of innocence", says the statement.
Silva's legal defence informed that it is gathering facts related to the investigation to present the necessary clarifications at the appropriate time. The defences of the other investigated parties were not reached by the time of publication.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo