AMAZONAS, BRAZIL — The Federal Police have destroyed vessels used for illegal mining within Indigenous land in the Javari Valley, in the state of Amazonas.
The operation is part of an ongoing effort to identify sites where illicit mining activities are taking place.
The enforcement actions began last Thursday (24th) and will continue through early May.
The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) are also participating in the operation.
According to the Federal Police, during the first few days of the mission, 16 dredges and various pieces of mining equipment were rendered inoperable.
The police further stated that the operation also seeks to protect the Indigenous communities of the Javari Valley, who often rely on the region’s natural resources for their subsistence.
The Javari Valley is located in a remote region and has already been affected by illegal mining practices, which have disrupted the lives of local communities.
The Federal Police also conducted investigations to identify the leaders and financiers of the illicit activity, as well as their connections to organized crime.
The Javari Valley is the second-largest Indigenous territory in Brazil, spanning approximately 8.5 million hectares, and is home to the world's largest population of uncontacted Indigenous peoples.

amazonagency.news