Immigration and Customs Enforcement has taken into custody Alexandre Ramagem, who previously led Brazil’s intelligence operations, according to an agency announcement Monday. Ramagem had escaped from Brazil last September after being found guilty of participating in a coup attempt alongside former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The former Federal Police inspector received a prison term exceeding 16 years for his participation in efforts to prevent leftist politician Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office following his electoral victory over Bolsonaro in 2022.
Legal representatives for Ramagem have not yet provided a statement regarding his detention. Throughout the legal proceedings, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Paulo Figueiredo, a supporter of Bolsonaro residing in the United States, claimed on social media platform X that Ramagem’s arrest stemmed from a minor traffic offense.
The specific circumstances of his detention remain unconfirmed, and it’s unclear whether his arrest connects to Brazil’s efforts to have him returned to face his sentence.
The legal proceedings against Bolsonaro, known for his far-right political stance, prompted criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who cited the case as justification for imposing significant trade penalties on Brazilian goods during the previous year.
Despite Trump’s response, the case proceeded to completion in September, resulting in guilty verdicts for 29 individuals, including Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison term. Trump subsequently removed many of the trade restrictions he had previously implemented.
During his tenure as Brazil’s intelligence agency director beginning in 2019 under the Bolsonaro government, Ramagem faced accusations of conducting surveillance on the former president’s political opponents and supplying information designed to undermine confidence in Brazil’s election procedures.
