In a significant diplomatic move, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to bring up a major tax evasion case during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The topic centers on the Refit case, which exposed one of Brazil's largest schemes for evading taxes, and the Brazilian businessman at its heart, Ricardo Magro.
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Washington, will see Lula address the issue of corruption within Brazil's fuel sector. While the Brazilian president may not mention Magro by name, the case of the Refinaria de Manguinhos, now known as Refit, is a key point of discussion. Magro is identified in Brazilian investigations as the country's largest tax debtor.
Confirmation of the agenda came from Brazil's Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin. In a recent interview, Alckmin stated that combating corruption in the fuel industry would be a central theme of the Lula-Trump conversation. He emphasized the government's efforts to target not just organized crime, but also the major economic players facilitating tax evasion through refineries, imports, and foreign trade.
When directly asked if the specific case of Ricardo Magro would be raised, Alckmin responded affirmatively. He described the area as "extremely serious," noting that individuals have been arrested and assets blocked as part of the crackdown. The vice president asserted that these actions have saved Brazil's fuel sector from being dominated by groups focused solely on tax evasion.
Ricardo Magro, 51, is a prominent and controversial figure in the Brazilian fuel market. A lawyer and businessman, he has led the former Refinaria de Manguinhos, now the Refit group, since 2008. The company has been the subject of numerous tax investigations and disputes with regulatory bodies over the years.
Originally from São Paulo, Magro gained prominence in Rio de Janeiro. Since 2016, he has resided in an upscale area of Miami, Florida, in the United States. His educational background includes a law degree from Universidade Paulista (Unip) and a postgraduate specialization in tax law.
The Refit case itself is described as revealing one of the largest tax evasion schemes ever uncovered in Brazil. Investigations have linked Magro to the suspected use of financial institutions in the US state of Delaware to facilitate the alleged evasion.
The discussion highlights the ongoing international cooperation and focus on financial crimes that cross borders, with Brazil seeking to address the issue at the highest diplomatic levels. Based on reporting from g1.