Paulo Sirqueira Korek Farias, president of Água Santa, a football club based in Diadema, in Greater São Paulo, surrendered to Civil Police on September 19 and was arrested over alleged ties to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital), Brazil’s largest organized crime group. He also owns A2 Transportes, a company that operates bus lines in the South Zone of São Paulo.
The “Vectura Corrupta” operation
The investigation, dubbed “Operação Vectura Corrupta,” is being carried out jointly by Civil Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. It examines a money-laundering scheme tied to organized crime involving bus companies, business owners and politicians connected to the transportation sector.
The surrender and his defense
Korek Farias turned himself in at the narcotics investigation unit in Mogi das Cruzes and was placed under a 30-day temporary detention order. During questioning, he denied any involvement with organized crime, saying: “I have no involvement with organized crime.” He acknowledged a 2017 business transaction involving bus company Trans Líder and José Daniel Satilite, identified as a PCC member, but described it as routine business unrelated to illicit funds.
His legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention. In the same case, former São Paulo City Council president Milton Leite also turned himself in to police, and his detention was upheld by the courts.
The case remains under investigation by São Paulo’s Civil Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office.
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