Investigators allege the plotters aimed to trigger a 2022 coup.
Brazilian federal police arrested five officers for allegedly plotting in late 2022 to assassinate then-president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as part of a coup attempt, codenamed “Green and Yellow Dagger.” The plan also targeted Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Authorities stated the operation aimed to dismantle a criminal organization plotting a coup to prevent the legitimately elected government from taking office.
The plot allegedly involved other military personnel with special forces training. Police executed three search warrants and took additional measures. The statement didn’t specify when charges would be filed.
Investigators haven’t explained why the plan wasn’t executed. The Secretary of Social Communication, Paulo Pimenta, suggested it was due to unforeseen circumstances. Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski indicated the suspects came close to succeeding.
Reports cite an arrest warrant naming retired General Mario Fernandes, a former senior advisor to Jair Bolsonaro, as a suspect. Bolsonaro narrowly lost the election to Lula.
Lula began his third term in January 2023 after defeating Bolsonaro in October 2022. Bolsonaro disputed the results, claiming electoral fraud. His supporters protested, culminating in the January 8, 2023, storming of the presidential palace.
Some rioters advocated a military coup. Bolsonaro, who was in the US at the time, later called for an end to the unrest and approved the transition.
Bolsonaro’s lawyer, Paulo Cunha Bueno, told the New York Times that Bolsonaro was uninvolved and unaware of the plot, characterizing the investigation as political persecution.
According to AP, citing the investigation, Fernandes provided instructions and funds to protesters. The plan included various scenarios for assassinating Judge de Moraes; investigators found messages and documents showing surveillance.
The plot allegedly included poisoning Lula; one arrested officer reportedly provided information about the president-elect’s security.
Police seized a document outlining a plan to overthrow the government, including a fabricated election fraud investigation to justify new elections via presidential decree with Congressional backing.
The alleged plotters aimed to establish and control a “crisis cabinet” afterwards, police said.