Operation against buying votes in the 2026 elections fulfills warrants in six cities in Paraíba

The warrants were carried out in Sousa, Patos, Coremas, Cajazeirinhas and Água Branca, as determined by the Electoral Court. Last Saturday (7), two other personal search warrants were executed in João Pessoa.

The investigation seeks to identify the origin of the money, who would be responsible for distributing the amounts and which people could be involved in the scheme.

The first phase of Operation Ballast was launched on September 30th. On that occasion, two men were arrested in the act with around R$380,000 in cash. Three search and seizure warrants were also executed in Sousa, in the Sertão da Paraíba.

Among the targets of the operation was Fábio Tyrone (PSB), former mayor of Sousa and candidate for federal deputy. He was the target of a search and seizure warrant, and the Court ordered the blocking of R$9 million in financial assets. The investigation investigated suspicions of irregular electoral campaign financing.

Rede Paraíba tried to contact Fábio Tyrone and the PSB lawyer, but received no response. In a video published on social media, the former mayor stated that he collaborated with the investigation and that the police did not find any money, documents or other elements that would prove irregularities at his residence. He also criticized the approach, saying the action took place with "hostility" and embarrassed his wife and children.

Still during the investigations, the police found, in the home of one of the people being investigated, notes that related municipalities in Paraíba to voting targets and monetary values. A payment request made by a supporter was also identified, who claimed to have obtained votes from voters in a neighborhood.

According to the Federal Police, the records pointed to a possible organized structure for distributing money through intermediaries in different cities, with the aim of buying votes.

Another point of the investigation involves a vehicle rented by the Government of Paraíba and linked to the State Secretariat for Human Development (SEDH). According to the investigation, after one of the money withdrawals, the car met with the person responsible for withdrawing the amounts and traveled to different municipalities in Paraíba.

The suspicion is that the vehicle was used to transport resources intended for buying votes. On the day of the first phase of the operation, the car was approached carrying campaign material and notes with the names of municipalities in Paraíba.