Lula: ‘Part of the weapons seized here come from the USA, the misfortune is not just here’

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated this Tuesday, 12th, that he told American President Donald Trump, during a meeting in Washington last week, that part of the firearms seized in Brazil come from the United States, to show that the “disgrace” is not just “on this side”.

The statement was made during a ceremony at Palácio do Planalto to launch the Brazil against Organized Crime program, the federal government’s new investment in the area of ​​public security.

The program is structured around four strategic axes (financial suffocation of criminal organizations; strengthening security in the prison system; improving the investigation and clarification of homicides; and combating arms trafficking), and should be used as an example, in the electoral campaign, of the government’s commitment to combating violence.

“We told President Trump that we have a proposal for financial asphyxiation, to combat money laundering. In fact, there is a state in the United States, Delaware, if I’m not mistaken, that launders money from Brazilian people. At the same time, part of the weapons we seize come from the United States. It’s important to say, because otherwise they give the idea that the whole misfortune is on this side and they have nothing to do with it”, said Lula in a speech.

He also mentioned having asked Trump for his government to send Brazilian criminals living in the United States to Brazil. “I told President Trump, ‘If you really want to fight organized crime, you have to hand over some of our people who are living in Miami.’ You just want to discuss it,” he said.

The statement made reference to businessman and former lawyer Ricardo Andrade Magro, responsible for the Refit Group (trade name of the Manguinhos Refinery), which was already the target of an operation carried out by the São Paulo Civil Police, the Federal Revenue Service and the Public Ministry.

The group is considered the largest ICMS debtor in the State of São Paulo, the second largest in Rio de Janeiro and one of the largest in the Union – accused of evading R$26 billion. The police used a sledgehammer to break down the company’s door. Addresses linked to Magro’s family were also search and seizure targets. The businessman lives in Miami.

Lula had already said that he had spoken about Magro with Trump, by phone, in December. According to him, the businessman is among “the biggest leaders of organized crime in the country”, and had five ships seized by the Federal Revenue Service. “If you want to help, let’s help by arresting this guy right away,” he said at the time.

In November last year, when it was targeted for operation, the company stated that “all taxes are duly declared, with no need to talk about tax evasion”.

The president also echoed criticisms frequently made by governors, especially those on the right, towards the justice system, accused of being conniving with the arrests made by the state police.

“We’re going to have to talk a lot with the Judiciary, because there are a lot of complaints from governors, because often the police arrest criminals, and a week later that criminal is free. There are people who complain that there are many places (where) the person is arrested, and the prisoner chooses the place where he wants to be imprisoned, and sometimes he is released and sent to the jail where he wants to stay”, said Lula.

He stated that the Military Police, Civil Police and governors complain about this matter, and that he will seek bodies such as the National Council of Justice and the National Council of Prosecutors to address the issue.

The speech usually opposes conservative and progressive politicians, who weigh their criticisms of police work. In March 2025, for example, the then Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, provoked a crisis with opponents when he stated that the Judiciary was obliged to release inmates who had their arrests conducted incorrectly by the police. According to him, “the police have to arrest better”.