Brazilian police have arrested five individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that the country’s spy agency, Agencia Brasileira de Inteligencia (Abin), was weaponized by former President Jair Bolsonaro during his tenure from 2019 to 2023. The arrests come after court records revealed that Bolsonaro’s aide, Alexandre Ramagem, allegedly ran a “criminal organization of high offensive capability” within Abin.
Federal police have accused Ramagem of spying on politicians, judges, and other officials, raising questions about whether Bolsonaro ordered the surveillance on his rivals. The investigation aims to uncover the extent of Abin’s alleged spying activities and the involvement of high-ranking officials.
The search and seizure raids conducted by the police resulted in the issuance of preventive, pre-trial arrest warrants against the following individuals:
1. Alexandre Ramagem – Former spy chief under Bolsonaro’s administration
2. [Names of other arrested individuals]
These latest allegations add to the growing list of probes against Bolsonaro. Already ineligible to run for office in 2030 due to a failed re-election campaign in 2022, he is currently entangled in a jewelry embezzlement case from last week and a case related to the forgery of his COVID-19 vaccine records.
Reactions to the allegations have been varied, with some expressing concern over the potential abuse of power and erosion of democratic institutions. Others await further evidence and the outcome of the investigation before passing judgment.
