Brazil's former intelligence chief, Alexandre Ramagem, is under investigation by federal police as part of a broader probe into alleged spying on political opponents during the tenure of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The investigation involves an 'organized crime' group within the intelligence agency, ABIN, which operated under Ramagem's leadership. This group allegedly ran a parallel structure within ABIN, misusing the agency's tools and services for illicit activities, including producing fabricated information for political and media purposes.
According to police, Ramagem is suspected of using a software called FirstMile, developed by Israeli company Cognyte, to monitor targets and public authorities in order to create false narratives. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized 21 search warrants, which were executed by police early Thursday morning, as part of the investigation. The warrants were aimed at gathering evidence related to the activities of this criminal group.
It was revealed that the group's modus operandi involved not only monitoring targets and producing reports but also manipulating information to create links between targets, such as lawmakers and Supreme Court Justices, and drug trafficking. Furthermore, police discovered that the group had attempted to interfere in several police investigations, including those involving Bolsonaro's sons, Jair Renan and Flávio.
Ramagem has denied access, use, or management of the software in question during an interview with GloboNews. He criticized the warrant documents, claiming they contained unfounded accusations. In October, Globo television network reported that ABIN personnel used the tracking software over 30,000 times, targeting politicians, journalists, lawyers, and opponents of Bolsonaro's government in 1,800 instances.
The appointment of Ramagem as the head of ABIN in May 2019 by President Bolsonaro had previously faced criticism. Bolsonaro had also nominated Ramagem to be the federal police chief, but due to concerns about his proximity to the president's family and the potential for preferential treatment, this nomination was quickly withdrawn.
In October, as part of this investigation, Brazilian police arrested two individuals and executed 25 search warrants. On January 22, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the latest series of search and seizure warrants, targeting documents, electronic devices, and 12 individuals. The order also restricts Ramagem and others from leaving the capital city of Brasilia without prior authorization, and from accessing federal police buildings without summons.
There was no mention in the court order about suspending Ramagem from his duties as a federal lawmaker. Additionally, it was reported that Ramagem is a pre-candidate for mayor in Rio de Janeiro, with elections scheduled for October. Local newspaper O Globo stated that Bolsonaro's son, Carlos, will be coordinating Ramagem's social media during his mayoral campaign.
The investigation into alleged spying activities and the misuse of intelligence agency resources reflects a broader concern surrounding the protection of privacy and the integrity of institutions in Brazil. As the federal police dig deeper into this case, it is expected that more revelations will emerge, potentially shaking the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.
