Five Amazon countries arrest hundreds in major crackdown on environmental crime
Summary
Police from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru arrested hundreds of people in a large operation against environmental crimes in the Amazon rainforest. The effort targeted illegal mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, and land grabbing, leading to the seizure of timber, minerals, equipment, and animals.Key Facts
- Operation Green Shield 2026 ran from July 15 to 31 and involved over 3,600 officers.
- Authorities made 839 arrests and carried out 1,045 field actions.
- More than 280,000 cubic meters of illegal timber were seized, enough to fill about 110 Olympic swimming pools.
- The operation confiscated 195 metric tons of minerals and mining equipment, including gold, carbon, iron, and copper.
- Over 3,000 live animals were rescued, and at least 430 dead animals linked to wildlife trafficking were recovered.
- Criminal groups involved often combine illegal mining, logging, and wildlife trafficking and operate across borders.
- The operation was coordinated from Bogotá by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), supported by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
- The total value of seized goods exceeded $280 million.
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