Fifteen people were arrested this Sunday (17) after releasing balloons in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The arrests took place in Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense.
After receiving a complaint, teams from the State Secretariats for the Environment and Sustainability, the Civil Police and the Military Police got together and went to the location, where a balloon measuring around 30 meters was shot down. A second, even larger one, measuring 60 meters high, was also seized.
In another action, also this Sunday, in Guanabara Bay, with support from the State Environmental Institute (Inea) and the Environmental Police Command (CPAM), four more balloons were seized in the water. One of them was about 20 meters from the runway at Santos Dumont airport, posing a safety risk.
According to the state government, due to the dry period, inspection actions in conservation units were intensified, aiming to prevent forest fires.
“The practice of releasing balloons represents a great danger. A danger that destroys forests, kills animals, compromises biodiversity and also puts people's lives at risk. We follow the guidance of Governor Cláudio Castro to increase awareness and combat this practice. Releasing a balloon is a crime”, said the Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Bernardo Rossi.
The penalty for anyone who manufactures, sells, transports or releases balloons is one to three years in prison, based on the Environmental Crimes Law. The offender is also subject to a fine of R$500 per balloon unit seized, according to state legislation.
Source: CNN Brasil
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