Federal Police conduct operation against illegal mining in the Legal Amazon
15 de May de 2025
By Jadson Lima – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – The Superintendence of the Federal Police of Rondônia (PF-RO) carried out, on Tuesday the 13th, a joint operation with other agencies to combat illegal mining in the region of the municipality of Humaitá (AM), located 590 kilometres from Manaus. During the operation, agents destroyed dredges and other equipment used in illegal activities on the Madeira River, in the south of Amazonas.
The institution reported that federal agents seized mobile phones found with suspects as well as firearms. The police operation was supported by staff from the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), agents from the Military Police of the State of Rondônia (BOPE), and employees from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
According to the Federal Police, the materials seized during the operation will be analysed as part of ongoing investigations to support new representations aimed at identifying the “leaders and financiers of the illicit activity, as well as their connections with organised crime”. In this operation, agents destroyed 25 dredges, equipment used in illegal mining activities, in addition to mercury.
Tension in the city
Audio recordings shared in messaging app groups reveal that men believed to be miners incited suspects involved in the illegal activities to challenge the agents from the Federal Police and IBAMA. In the voice messages, the suspects even speak of “opening fire” on the officers.
Watch the video of the operation:
“It’s time to shoot these [agents] bastards,” one said. “Now it’s time to get them from the side, fire the rockets and smash them there, [they’re all] in the city,” commented another unidentified man. The recordings were revealed by the newspaper Folha de São Paulo and indicate a rising tension between illegal miners and the regulatory authorities.
To CENARIUM, a resident of Humaitá, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the miners have turned against the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and blamed the current administration for the destruction of the equipment used in the illegal activities. In a video, a man states that “politics only lasts four years” and says that Lula “will pay” for the enforcement actions taking place locally.
The report contacted PF-RO regarding the possible opening of an inquiry to investigate the suspects who sent the audio messages. The report also requested clarification on what measures are being taken by the force to ensure the safety of the agents and avoid confrontation with the suspects. So far, there has been no response.