The senator and leader of the government in the Senate, Jaques Wagner (PT-BA), said this Thursday (18) that the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), called to express his solidarity after the Federal Police (PF) operation carried out this morning at the senator’s house. “’Stand firm, this is an attempt to destabilize you, but count on my trust’, that’s what Lula told me”. The statement was made in an interview with Band News.
The action began, which investigates irregularities involving Banco Master. During the execution of the mandates, US$49,000 were found in a hotel room linked to the senator in Brasília.
The amount that was seized in cash exceeds the limit of any amount above US$20,000 stipulated to be collected by Minister André Mendonça, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and rapporteur of the case at the Supreme Court.
During the interview, the senator said that the money comes from the times he bought dollars when traveling abroad and that he received approximately US$70,000 in daily allowances since 2019. “I am completely calm about the money, as I have never received money from Banco Master”, declared.
Wagner also said that he continues to lead the government in the Senate, and that Lula has not signaled that he will leave office. “The leadership of the government is the responsibility of President Lula, with whom I spoke today, and I find it very difficult for him to change my position due to the trust he has in me, he made a point of calling me and showing solidarity with me”, he explained.
He also stated that he has no reason to withdraw his candidacy for re-election as senator. “My candidacy is absolutely maintained, I am very sure of everything I have done and my personal life.”
Finally, the senator stated that, despite having received the PF at his home and agreeing that the action comes from a court decision, there are others who receive many millions more who were not subjected to Operation. “It’s part of it, despite there being people with many more millions received who didn’t have this search and seizure”, he concluded.
Compliance Zero
Operation Compliance Zero is a PF investigation that seeks to clarify suspected irregularities involving Banco Master and its controller, Daniel Vorcaro. The case came to light at the end of 2025, after indications that the institution had sold financial products without guarantees compatible with the volume raised, offering returns considered atypical to attract investors. In the first stage of the operation, Vorcaro was detainedand investigators pointed out that potential losses associated with the scheme could reach around R$12 billion.
Since then, the investigation has gained new fronts and began to examine possible practices of money laundering, hiding assets, obtaining and improper use of confidential information, in addition to suspected pressure against opponents and possible acts of corruption. Another focus of the investigations involves financial operations between Banco Master and Banco de Brasília (BRB), including billion-dollar contributions and the allocation of resources that would have benefited public agents.
As investigations progressed, the Federal Police expanded the scope of the operation to include people close to the businessman and authorities with alleged links to the facts under investigation.. Among the names mentioned are senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), who is the target of investigations into possible payments related to the bank’s interestsand the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro (PL), mentioned in investigations into the application of Rioprevidência resources in funds associated with the financial group.
