Federal Police take stock of efforts against mining on Yanomami lands
Brazil’s Federal Police disclosed the results of the first month of its crackdown on illegal mining in the Yanomami territory, in the states of Roraima and Amazonas, North Brazil.
So far, 84 rafts or boats, two aircraft, 172 energy generators, 11.4 thousand liters of fuel, in addition to extraction machinery, chainsaws, mercury and a ton of grocery items belonging to illegal miners have been either seized or rendered useless. Two hundred camp sites were also destroyed along with weapons and ammunition, and 27 tons of cassiterite ore were confiscated.
The report published Tuesday (Mar. 14) includes data on joint actions from Brazil’s natural resources agency Ibama, the Federal Police, the National Public Security Force, the Federal Highway Police, and national indigenous authority Funai.
Director for Environment and the Amazon of the Federal Police Humberto Freire said the operation shows that protecting the rainforest will be one of the priorities of the Federal Police and the government.
“We are attentive to the expectations of both Brazilians and the world regarding the Amazon and the environment. We will work to guarantee the rights of everyone affected, and confront organized crime by reaching all the links in the criminal chain,” he declared.
