(Reuters) — Alexandre Ramagem, a former head of Brazil’s intelligence agency under Jair Bolsonaro, has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Florida after fleeing his home country following a criminal conviction tied to a coup plot.
The U.S. agency confirmed Monday that Ramagem was being held but did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the detention. Authorities in Brazil indicated that a man sought by their justice system had been arrested in Orlando in coordination with American officials, though they did not initially name him.
Ramagem, a former federal police official, was sentenced in Brazil to more than 16 years in prison for his role in an effort to overturn the 2022 election victory of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The case stemmed from a broader investigation into actions by allies of Bolsonaro following his defeat.
Brazil’s Federal Police said the arrest resulted from cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies. The statement noted that the individual detained had been convicted by Brazil’s highest court for involvement in a plot to disrupt the democratic transfer of power.
Ramagem has consistently denied wrongdoing, and his legal team did not immediately respond to inquiries.
A political ally of Bolsonaro, Paulo Figueiredo, indicated on social media that the arrest may have followed a minor traffic stop before immigration authorities became involved. That account has not been independently confirmed.
It remains unclear whether the detention is directly linked to a formal extradition request from Brazil. U.S. officials have not clarified whether proceedings to return Ramagem to Brazil are underway.
The case is part of a wider crackdown by Brazilian authorities that led to convictions of dozens of individuals, including Bolsonaro himself, who received a lengthy prison sentence. The investigation focused on allegations that members of the former administration attempted to undermine the country’s electoral system.
During his tenure leading Brazil’s intelligence service beginning in 2019, Ramagem was accused of using state resources to monitor critics of the government and support efforts to challenge election results. He later served briefly as a lawmaker before losing his seat following the court ruling.
The detention highlights increasing cross-border cooperation in high-profile political and criminal cases, particularly those involving alleged threats to democratic institutions. It also underscores how individuals facing serious charges abroad may encounter legal exposure even after leaving their home countries.
Analysts note that the outcome of Ramagem’s case could influence future cooperation between Washington and Brasilia on extradition matters, as well as set a precedent for how former officials accused of political crimes are handled internationally.
