Politics · Brazil · 1 day ago
Three candidates questioned over alleged organized-crime links win seats
Three candidates in Brazil won seats in the recent election despite having been questioned over suspected links to organized crime.
They were Ney Santos, elected to the federal Chamber of Deputies in São Paulo, and Antonio Rueda, elected to the same chamber in Rio de Janeiro, along with Márcio Canella, elected to Rio's state legislature.
Santos was investigated over alleged links to the PCC in a money-laundering scheme, but he and his defense say the accusations were not supported by evidence and the case was closed.
Canella was criticized for appointing two men later convicted of militia ties to city posts, and his defense says he dismissed them after a final court ruling.
Rueda campaigned alongside Canella, but his lawyer said Rueda could not be expected to know all of the allies of candidates campaigning with him.
The candidates' registrations were approved by the Electoral Court, and the information provided does not describe any next steps.
Three candidates questioned over suspected links to organized crime won seats in Brazil’s elections.
They were among 30 candidates nationwide questioned by electoral authorities or courts over alleged organized-crime ties.
Ney Santos won a seat in the federal Chamber of Deputies for São Paulo with 118,500 votes.
Antonio Rueda won a federal seat in Rio de Janeiro with 155,800 votes, while Márcio Canella won a state assembly seat with 197,100 votes.
The candidates and their representatives denied wrongdoing or disputed the allegations.
- Who
- Ney Santos, Antonio Rueda and Márcio Canella.
- What
- They won seats in Brazil’s federal and state legislatures after being questioned over suspected organized-crime links.
- When
- They were elected on Sunday the 4th; the article was published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Why
- The sources report their election results and describe allegations of links to organized crime; they do not state why voters chose them.
Accusers and investigators
The candidates and their representatives
Alleged links
Accusers and investigators
Ney Santos was investigated over suspected ties to the PCC in a drug-trafficking money-laundering scheme; Canella was criticized for appointing two convicted militiamen as municipal secretaries.
The candidates and their representatives
Santos’s defense said the allegations had been exhaustively investigated and lacked evidence; Canella’s defense said he dismissed the employees after a final decision and fought criminal factions.
Responsibility
Accusers and investigators
Rueda campaigned jointly with Canella, whose municipal appointments were linked to organized crime by a court decision.
The candidates and their representatives
Rueda’s lawyer said he could not know all the allies of candidates with whom he campaigned; Rueda’s office said Rio’s electoral court unanimously dismissed the accusations on September 22.
All the allegations made by the Public Prosecutor’s Office were investigated exhaustively and, in the end, for a total lack of evidence, the Judiciary always recognized his innocence.
I am threatened by militiamen, I am threatened by drug traffickers because of the work I do.
The rest is all lies and idle talk.
Investigations into Ney Santos began, according to his account.
Santos went into hiding after his arrest was ordered.
Canella was arrested after federal police found a rifle in his car; he was released days later and ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor.
Rio de Janeiro’s regional electoral court unanimously dismissed the accusations against Rueda, according to his office.
Santos, Rueda and Canella were elected to legislative seats.
Folha published its report on the three winners.
- Candidates elected
- Ney Santos, Antonio Rueda and Márcio Canella
- Santos’s vote total
- 118,500 in São Paulo
- Rueda’s vote total
- 155,800 in Rio de Janeiro
- Canella’s vote total
- 197,100 in Rio de Janeiro
- Candidates questioned nationwide
- 30
- Canella’s former municipal appointees
- Two convicted militiamen
Sources
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