Operation Rivers Savior, which aims to combat the illegal gold extraction in the rivers that pass in the historic cities of Tiradentes and São João del Rei, in Minas Gerais, was launched on Friday (25) by the Federal Police of Minas Gerais.
During the action, agents destroyed eight ferries, dredges and engines used in gold extraction. During the demarches, 30 people were approached, resulting in seven arrests in the act. Two firearms were also seized.
According to the Federal Police, the investigations indicated that the suspects carried out gold extraction directly on the riverbed, using ferries and dredges without any authorization from the National Mining Agency (ANM) and no environmental license. “In addition to configuring usurpation of good mineral goods belonging to the Union, illegal activity caused serious environmental damage such as erosion, siltation of watercourses, losses to local fauna and flora and water quality degradation.”
The investigated will be responsible for crimes of US public usurpation and environmental damage, whose penalties can reach six years of detention.
The operation is still in progress. To date, 16 extraction points have been inspected, of which seven had illegal activity.
Federal Police Action takes place in conjunction with the Environmental Military Police, Special Operations Battalion (BOPE), Comave, Ibama and National Mining Agency (ANM). The action is part of a series of Federal Police operations in Minas Gerais and other states to curb illegal extraction of ores, which often involves structured schemes and causes significant environmental impacts.
This content was originally published in PF combat illegal gold extraction in historic MG cities on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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