ACRE, BRAZIL - A preventive arrest warrant and six search and seizure warrants were executed on the morning of Friday (22) as part of "Operation Smoke II" conducted by the Federal Police in Acre (PF-AC), targeting environmental crimes, land grabbing, and document forgery related to the illegal appropriation of public lands in the Amazon.

According to the Federal Police, the investigation points to a criminal organization based in Acre responsible for the deforestation of over 900 hectares of native forest, followed by illegal burning to clear land for clandestine cattle ranching.

The operation began last year and is now in its second phase.

Authorities also carried out court-ordered asset seizures valued at over BRL 70 million—approximately USD 12.8 million at current exchange rates. The operation is taking place in Boca do Acre, a municipality on the border between the states of Acre and Amazonas.

The Federal Police stated that the criminal group not only financed the deforestation but also created fraudulent chains of documentation to circumvent environmental and land ownership regulations.

Operation Smoke is part of Brazil’s National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation and Wildfires, aimed at protecting the Amazon biome and holding those responsible for illegal deforestation and burning accountable.

Source: amazonagency.news