São Paulo, Brazil – In a sweeping operation on Tuesday, Brazil’s Federal Police arrested four military officers, including an army general and a federal police agent.
The five men are accused of plotting to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmi and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes after the 2022 presidential election, which saw Lula defeat incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.
According to investigators, the plot was planned for December 15, 2022 and aimed to organize a coup that would preserve Bolsonaro’s presidency with the support of military generals. Federal authorities have not yet confirmed any link between this scheme and the anti-democratic riots that broke out in Brasília on January 8, 2023.
The arrested suspects are:
- Army General Mario Fernandes
- Lieutenant Colonel Rodrigo Bezerra de Azevedo
- Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Martins de Oliveira
- Lieutenant Colonel Hélio Ferreira Lima
- Federal Police Agent Wladimir Matos Soares
The group is being investigated on charges of violent acts against the democratic state, conspiracy to overthrow the government and organized crime. The documents revealed that plot planning intensified after the October 2022 elections.
Authorities have not ruled out the existence of additional accomplices, citing the complexity and scale of the plot.
During the operation, investigators discovered a three-page document on a device seized from General Mario Fernandes. The document contained detailed instructions for carrying out assassinations, described scenarios involving short-, medium- and long-range firearms and suggested the possible use of explosives.
To counter potential resistance from law enforcement or military units, the conspirators specified an arsenal of weapons, including 9 mm and .40 caliber pistols, 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rifles, an M249 MAG-MINIMI machine gun, a 40 mm grenade launcher, and an AT4. rocket launcher. Federal Police experts noted that such firepower could penetrate walls and destroy armored vehicles.
Investigators further revealed that the group considered poisoning as an alternative method of killing Lula during a public event. This method is said to have been intended for the murders of Vice President Alckmin and Justice Moraes.
Currently, former president Jair Bolsonaro is not involved in this investigation, although General Walter Braga Netto – Bolsonaro’s former defense minister and vice president – is under scrutiny for his possible involvement. Authorities allege the plot was discussed at his residence.
The investigation, spanning nearly two years, underscores the perceived threat to Brazil’s democratic order. Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet justified the arrests, citing sufficient evidence and the need to detain the suspects to ensure public safety and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
