Amid an internal conflict between the Federal Police and the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), President Lula (PT) signed on Tuesday (30/01) the dismissal of the deputy director of the intelligence agency, Alessandro Moretti. Moretti’s presence in office began to be challenged after the Federal Police in an operation launched last week regarding the alleged use of Abin for a spying scheme in the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government cited him.
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For the police, there was “collusion on the part of those being investigated” with part of Abin’s senior management, which would have caused damage to the investigation and to the agency itself. Intelligence specialist Marco Cepik, current director of the Abin Intelligence School, will replace Moretti.
Previous Operations
The Federal Police has already carried out three operations authorized by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and, among other points, claims that there was “collusion” between the current management of the intelligence agency and those being investigated.
The first operation authorized by Moraes took place in October and included searches in Abin. The second, on 25 January, targeted Alexandre Ramagem, head of Abin under Bolsonaro and now a federal deputy for Rio’s PL. The third, on 29 January, had as its main target councilor Carlos Bolsonaro (Republicans), appointed by PF as a member of the political nucleus of the organization that would use Abin for hidden purposes.
New Testimonials
The Federal Police summoned General Augusto Heleno to testify. The testimony is scheduled for Tuesday (06/02). The military was the head of the Institutional Security Office (GSI) during the Bolsonaro government; a body to which Abin was subordinate at that time — during the Lula (PT) government, the body became linked to the Civil House.
Operators Knew
The telephone operators Claro, Tim, and Vivo knew that the FirstMile spy software, contracted by Abin and other public bodies, was attacking their networks but they did not notify the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel). The need for communication in cases of this type is included in the sector’s regulations and is mandatory.
Analysis:
A probe into parallel Abin under the Bolsonaro administration was initiated in March 2023 following revelations that the FirstMile software was employed by the agency to surveil political adversaries. The Federal Police is currently examining whether the implicated criminal organization within Abin utilized illicit means to execute covert operations against individuals deemed ideological opponents, to secure political advantages by crafting narratives that implicated opposition figures. Additionally, compelling evidence suggests the exploitation of Abin for the personal gain of then-President Bolsonaro and his family.
