Suspects of starting fires in Amazon identified by Pará state police

The police in the northern state of Pará have identified three suspects of starting the fire in the native forest in the southeast of the state. The agents exercised search and seizure warrants at the suspects’ homes on Thursday (Aug 29).

Two are brothers and run the farm Ouro Verde, in São Félix do Xingu; the third is the property’s manager. The fazenda is located in the environmental protection area Triunfo do Xingu environmental, in the Brazilian Amazon in Pará.

Pará Police Commissioner José Humberto Melo reported that the probes showed the group has slashed and burned a stretch of more than 5 thousand km of the forest. Investigators also believe they may have hired more than 50 men to clear 20 thousand hectares in the Ouro Verde farm.

A group of workers in slavery-like conditions was also found by the police.

One of the suspects was caught in flagrante delicto with a .38 revolver and no permit. The three will be charged with damaging a protected area, pollution, fires, and criminal association.

Police agents are also reported to conduct raids in other properties belonging to the suspects in Goiás state.