Brazil Ex-Spy Chief Investigated in Political Spying Probe

Brazilian federal police are investigating former intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem as part of a wider probe into alleged spying on political opponents under former President Jair Bolsonaro.

In a significant development, Brazil's federal police have launched an investigation into the country's former intelligence chief, Alexandre Ramagem, as part of a broader probe into alleged spying on political opponents during the tenure of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The investigation has uncovered disturbing details about an organized crime group that operated within the intelligence agency, known as ABIN, during Ramagems tenure.

Uncovering the Parallel Structure

According to a police statement, the group within ABIN essentially ran a parallel structure, exploiting the agency's tools and services for illicit actions. They produced information for political and media use, sought personal benefits, and even interfered with police investigations. The investigation revealed that the group used a software called FirstMile, developed by Israeli company Cognyte, to monitor targets and public authorities with the aim of creating false narratives.

Modus Operandi of the Group

The Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' 38-page decision authorizing the search warrants detailed the group's purported modus operandi. While some officers were tasked with monitoring targets and producing reports, others allegedly fabricated links between targets, including lawmakers and Supreme Court Justices, and drug traffickers. The investigation also uncovered attempts by the group to interfere in several police investigations, including those involving two of Bolsonaro's sons, Jair Renan and Flávio.

Ramagem's Denial and Defense

In response to the allegations, Alexandre Ramagem denied having accessed, used, or managed the system in question. He criticized the legal documents that led to the search, describing them as a salad of narratives, including old and resolved ones, aimed at criminally accusing him without proof. Ramagem's defense comes amid reports that ABIN personnel employed the tracking software more than 30,000 times, with 1,800 instances targeting politicians, journalists, lawyers, and opponents of Bolsonaro's government.

Bolsonaro's Appointment and Controversies

It is worth noting that Bolsonaro appointed Ramagem to lead ABIN in May 2019. This appointment followed a previous attempt to appoint him as federal police chief, which faced significant criticism due to concerns about Ramagems closeness to the president's family and the potential for preferential treatment. In October 2022, Brazil's police arrested two individuals and executed 25 search warrants related to the investigation.

Recent Developments and Ongoing Investigations

On January 22, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the search and seizure of documents, electronic devices, and other items from 12 individuals, resulting in a total of 21 warrants. Additionally, the federal police were granted the authority to restrict Ramagems movements and prevent him from leaving the capital, Brasilia, without prior authorization. However, a request to suspend Ramagem from his duties as a federal lawmaker was not addressed.

As Ramagem prepares to run for mayor in Rio de Janeiro in the upcoming October elections, local reports indicate that Bolsonaro's son, Carlos, will coordinate Ramagems social media campaign. The ongoing investigation sheds light on the alleged abuses of power and illegal activities that took place within Brazil's intelligence agency during the previous administration.