The operation to combat mining in Amazonas, called “Prensa”, has already destroyed 420 rafts used by miners in the state. The Federal Police’s tally is for August 20 (Tuesday) and 25 (Sunday).
This action, with Funai and Ibama, is considered the largest operation against illegal mining underway in the southern region of the Amazon and is concentrated on the Madeira River and its tributaries, the Aripuanã River and the Manicoré River.
The agents find the dredges used by the miners, place explosives underneath and blow them up, according to images obtained by the report.
Investigators tell CNN that indigenous people living nearby are helping police find the rafts, providing directions and even taking officers to the locations. And they say this help in indigenous territory is essential.
Last Thursday (22), the operation resulted in a confrontation between miners and PF agents. In videos that circulated on social media, it was possible to see the confrontation with the sound of gunshots. There were arrests in flagrante delicto.
The focus of the operation, however, is not arrest, say the police, but rather the decommissioning of the dredgers. At this point, the agents gather intelligence information about who owns the mines and then file arrest warrants with the courts and return to serve the warrants.
Balance of destruction
- Day 1 – Destruction of 131 mining dredges/barges
- Day 2 – Destruction of 97 mining dredges/rafts
- Day 3 – Destruction of 75 mining dredges/rafts
- Day 4 – Destruction of 51 mining dredges/rafts
- Day 5 – Destruction of 45 mining dredges/rafts
- Day 6 – Destruction of 21 mining dredges/rafts
- Total: 420 dredgers destroyed
This content was originally published in Operation to combat mining destroys 420 rafts used by crime in Amazonas on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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