President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked U.S. President Donald Trump to extradite or imprison Ricardo Magro, the owner of the Refit refinery.
The request signals a high-level effort by the Brazilian government to target organized crime and high-profile financial evasion. By involving the U.S. executive branch, Lula is attempting to leverage international cooperation to capture a businessman he describes as a primary offender against the state.
Lula said that he requested the arrest of the Refit owner during a series of communications with the White House. In an interview with TV Record Bahia on Thursday, March 2, 2024 [1], the president said, "Pedi ao presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, que prendesse o dono da Refit" [2].
Reports regarding the timing of these requests vary. While some sources cite the March 2 interview [1], other reports indicate the president provided information about Magro to the U.S. administration on Sunday, March 22, 2024 [3]. There are also conflicting accounts regarding the venue of the request, with some reports citing the television interview and others citing a bilateral meeting at the White House [4].
Lula's focus on Magro stems from allegations of massive financial crimes. The president has labeled Magro as the biggest tax evader in Brazil [1]. To facilitate the legal process, Lula said, "Enviei ao presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, informações sobre Ricardo Magro" [3].
The Refit refinery owner has become a central figure in the administration's anti-crime strategy. The Brazilian government is seeking to make a public example of Magro to deter other large-scale tax evasion schemes within the country's industrial sector [2].
“Pedi ao presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, que prendesse o dono da Refit.”
This request represents a significant escalation in Brazil's pursuit of white-collar criminals abroad. By personally appealing to the U.S. President, Lula is bypassing traditional diplomatic channels to accelerate the extradition process. The success of this move depends on the U.S. Department of Justice's willingness to act on the provided evidence and the existing extradition treaties between the two nations.
