Brazil’s Justice Minister Flavio Dino ordered police on Monday to investigate an alleged attempt to bring undeclared jewelry, a $3.2 million gift from Saudi Arabia, to former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, Reuters reported.

A diamond necklace, ring, watch and earrings given to Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro by the government of Saudi Arabia were confiscated by customs at Sao Paulo International Airport in October 2021.

The luxury jewels, made by Chopard of Switzerland, were found in the backpack of a government adviser traveling to Riyadh with then-Energy Minister Admiral Bento Albuquerque.

The Saudi embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

Bolsonaro, who left for the United States two days before the end of his term in December without conceding defeat in re-election, has denied any wrongdoing, but his leftist successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has demanded an investigation. The cabinet minister called it “contraband”.

The investigation could add to the legal liability Bolsonaro will face if and when he returns to Brazil, from an investigation into incitement by his supporters to violent protests after he left office to criticism of Brazil’s electronic voting system.

Brazilians are allowed to bring in $1,000 worth of goods or gifts and pay high taxes on anything over that value.

Bolsonaro’s critics said that gifts for the president belong to the state and should go into the presidential collection. It is not clear what Bolsonaros intended in this case.

The newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported on Sunday that there was a second package of Chopard items donated by the government of Saudi Arabia, including a pen, cufflinks, a ring and rosaries, which were in the luggage of another member of the Albuquerque delegation and which were not detected by customs officials.

Brazil’s federal tax office also said Monday it was investigating whether customs laws were followed when a second batch of jewelry was brought into the country. According to him, gifts to the president and his wife should be state property.

In his only public comment on the jewels, Bolsonaro said he was “crucified” for a gift he never asked for or received.