Police close in on Bolsonaro’s ‘private intelligence system’

During a ministerial meeting in April 2020 — which was recorded and later made public — then-President Jair Bolsonaro admitted to his aides that he distrusted Brazil’s intelligence services.

“I have the Federal Police that won’t give me information. I’ve got the intelligence of the Armed Forces that won’t give me information. Abin [the Brazilian Intelligence Agency] has its problems, I get some information. I don’t get more because it’s lacking, really … we have some problems,” Mr. Bolsonaro said.

Later in the same meeting, he told ministers he cultivated what he called his own intelligence apparatus. “My private one works,” he said.

Federal Police operations over the past week shed more light on the former president’s private intelligence system.

The feds have raided multiple addresses linked to people suspected of illegally using spy intelligence software to monitor political opponents of the former Bolsonaro administration. 

Last week, marshals raided the offices of Congressman Alexandre Ramagem, former head of Brazil’s intelligence agency. On Monday, they paid a visit to the home and office of Rio de Janeiro Councilman Carlos Bolsonaro, the former president’s second-eldest son and famously responsible for his father’s social media strategy. Feds also entered the Bolsonaros’ summer home in the coastal city of Angra dos Reis.

Hours after the operation, the Supreme Court unsealed the ruling greenlighting the police operation, offering insight into the investigation.

A key message was found on Mr. Ramagem’s cell phone.

Luciana Almeida, a former aide to Carlos Bolsonaro, wrote to Mr. Ramagem that she “badly” needed “some help” about an investigation concerning...