Silvinei Vasques is former director general of the Federal Highway Police (PRF), a position he assumed in April 2021. He has a degree in economics, law and administration, with a long career in the corporation
His administration was marked by a strong connection with Bolsonarism. He was nominated for the position by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and expressed public support for Jair Bolsonaro on social media in 2022
He was convicted of using the PRF structure to organize blitzes on highways in the Northeast during the second round. The objective was to make it difficult for voters to move to favor Bolsonaro
In December 2025, he received a sentence of 24 years and six months in prison. The STF’s ruling included him as a participant in one of the cores of the previous government’s coup plot
The crimes charged include attempted coup d’état and abolition of the democratic rule of law. He was also accused of being part of an armed criminal organization
Before his conviction, he had already spent a year in pre-trial detention, between 2023 and 2024. He was released by order of minister Alexandre de Moraes, but had to comply with precautionary measures
To remain free while he appealed, Vasques wore an electronic ankle bracelet. However, he broke the equipment and fled abroad clandestinely.
He was arrested on December 26, 2025 in Paraguay, at Asunción airport. Vasques tried to board a flight to El Salvador using a false Paraguayan passport to evade Brazilian justice
After his capture, the Brazilian government began procedures for his immediate extradition. The Federal Police called the STF as soon as the electronic ankle bracelet was detected breaking.
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