Michelle Bolsonaro’s Uncle Arrested, Accused of Being Part of Militia Group

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – One of the seven police officers arrested on Wednesday and charged with illegally selling public land is the uncle of Brazil’s First Lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, reports daily Correio Brasiliense. The seven are said to be part of a militia group that operates within the region of Ceilândia, one of Brasília’s satellite cities.

First Sergeant João Batista Firmo Ferreira is the brother of Maria Aparecida Firmo Ferreira, Michelle Bolsonaro’s mother. A part of the First Lady’s family lives in the region.

Investigations revealed that these seven police officers formed a criminal organization and are responsible for illegal land subdivision, extortion, and homicide at a favela community in the Sol Nascente neighborhood of Ceilândia. According to investigators, the militia is also suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and arms sales.

The seven officers arrested either work or worked at the 8th and 10th police districts, responsible for overseeing public safety in the Sol Nascente neighborhood. Instead, investigations show, the militia invaded land, threatened residents, and charged a monthly fee for the “protection” of their properties and businesses.

According to local news media, the investigations started in 2011 but only gained momentum after one of the militia decided to help investigators, in exchange for a lighter sentence. According to the informant, the militia would force local small landholders off their farms and estates, divide up the land and sell it. On many occasions, they used the power of their guns, badges, and uniforms to embarrass and threaten buyers.