The Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, tried to recover valuable jewelry valued at three million euros that was seized at São Paulo International Airport in October 2021. The jewelry, including a diamond necklace, earrings, and a watch, were brought from Saudi Arabia as a gift by one of his ministers for the Brazilian first lady, but the minister’s aide tried to bring them into Brazil without declaring them or paying the corresponding taxes. The jewelry arrived in the assistant’s backpack on a scheduled flight from the Middle East and was discovered by customs officials during a baggage inspection.
Bolsonaro denied any irregularities and claimed that he neither asked for nor received the gift. In addition, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro responded to the information on Instagram and laughed at the lack of professionalism of the press. If Bolsonaro had considered the jewelry a state gift, she could have brought them into the country without a problem, but they would have remained public property. However, all the dealings indicate that he considered the jewels a personal gift.
During the previous year, Bolsonaro moved land, sea, and air to recover the jewels, but all efforts were unsuccessful. He made three efforts in which he mobilized members of his cabinet, three ministries, and the military. He even sent an emissary in an Air Force plane to the São Paulo airport in a desperate attempt to recover the jewels before Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office on January 1. The diamond jewelry is currently being held as evidence of an alleged crime.