Brazilian Federal Police search the home of Blairo Maggi, alleged leader of a criminal organization according to the Public Prosecutor's Office and minister in Temer's government.

The Federal Police are conducting searches this morning at the home of Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi, who has been accused of leading a criminal organization following a complaint by the former governor of Mato Grosso, Silval Barbosa. Even after the scandal, Michel Temer, who has also been accused of corruption, decided to keep him in office. In total, warrants are being executed at 64 addresses in two states and the federal capital.

September 14, 2017, 10:52 PMUpdated June 27, 2018, 07:52 pm

Temer Blairo Maggi (Photo: Leonardo Attuch)

247 - A The Federal Police (PF) carried out a search and seizure warrant this Thursday morning (14) at the apartment of the former governor of Mato Grosso and current Minister of Agriculture, Blairo Maggi (PP), in Asa Sul, Brasília. Federal police officers also carried out investigations this morning in São Paulo and Mato Grosso.

The search warrants are part of Operation Malebolge, the 12th phase of Operation Ararath, which dismantled a corruption scheme in Mato Grosso. The court orders were issued by Minister Luiz Fux of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), at the request of the Attorney General's Office (PGR).

In total, warrants are being served at 64 addresses, in two states and the federal capital. In Mato Grosso, operations are underway in nine municipalities: Cuiabá, Rondonópolis, Primavera do Leste, Araputanga, Pontes e Lacerda, Tangará da Serra, Juara, Sorriso, and Sinop.

Read below a recent report from 247 about the case:

Temer should keep Blairo, the ringleader according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in his position.

Therefore, the tendency is for Temer to keep the minister in the Esplanade of Ministries, unless a new and compelling event occurs.

Brasilia 247 The revelation that Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi is the mastermind behind the corruption scheme in Mato Grosso will not be enough for President Michel Temer to remove him from office, despite all the facts exposed from the plea bargain of former governor Silval Barbosa.

Blairo Maggi is currently in Rio Grande do Sul, where he is participating in an agribusiness fair, and at no point was he summoned by the president to provide justifications regarding the accusations raised by the Public Prosecutor's Office based on Silval Barbosa's testimony.

Michel Temer will only speak with the Minister of Agriculture this Monday (28). But government advisors said that “many accusations have been made without proof of what they accuse and, in this case, the situation of the Minister of Agriculture would be relevant”, according to Cristiana Lôbo, on G1 (read here).