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The Federal Police Expanded the Fight Against Illegal Mining in the Amazon, Targeting Environmental and Financial Crimes in 2025.
The actions of the Federal Police against illegal mining in the Amazon throughout 2025 resulted in the destruction of more than 375 dredges, rafts, and clandestine mining structures, as well as an estimated loss of R$ 1.408 billion for criminal organizations.
Thus, the actions took place in the state of Amazonas, involved federal rivers, indigenous lands, and conservation units, and aimed to target the economic base of environmental and financial crimes linked to illegal gold mining.
Right at the beginning of the year, the strategy adopted by the security forces began to prioritize the destruction of dredges, the main operational tool of illegal mining, and the blocking of financial resources used to maintain criminal activity.
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According to data obtained exclusively by g1, the operations with officially disclosed amounts already indicate billion-dollar losses for the groups involved.
Illegal Mining Advances on Protected Areas of the Amazon
In the Amazon, this practice occurs, especially within indigenous lands and environmental conservation units.
Thus, in addition to the devastation of the forest, the activity causes contamination of rivers with mercury, a highly toxic metal used in the separation of gold.
As a consequence, traditional communities are exposed to risks to health, food security, and their own cultural survival.
Therefore, the offensive by the Federal Police aimed to structurally reduce the profitability of crime, targeting not only the miners on-site but also funders, middlemen, and money laundering networks.
Strategy Targets Environmental and Financial Crimes
In addition to the destruction of dredges, the Federal Police advanced on the economic chain of illegal gold.
This approach reinforces that the fight against illegal mining goes beyond environmental and financial crimes, also involving usurpation of Union assets and money laundering.
According to the corporation, weakening the financial structure is essential to prevent the rapid resumption of illegal activities.
Human Rights Violations Expose Hidden Face of Mining
The operations also revealed a scenario of serious human rights violations.
According to the Federal Police, these rescues show that illegal mining is not limited to environmental damage, but involves systematic human exploitation.
Thus, the actions were supported by agencies such as Ibama, ICMBio, Funai, Labor Prosecutor’s Office, and Armed Forces.
Main Operations Against Illegal Mining in 2025
Operation Obscure Mining 2 – February
In February, federal agents found workers in degrading conditions in an illegal mining operation in Maués, in the interior of Amazonas.
The group was rescued and sent for assistance, reinforcing the connection between illegal mining and violations of fundamental rights.
Operation Kampô – July
In July, the Federal Police patrolled three rivers in the municipality of Jutái.
During the operation, 16 dredges used for clandestine gold extraction were located and destroyed, expanding the presence of the State in remote areas of the Amazon.
Operation Boiúna – September
One of the largest offensives of the year occurred in September, with the destruction of dredges on a large scale.
More than 270 structures were rendered unusable in Humaitá and Manicoré, directly affecting the logistics of illegal mining and reducing the industrial exploitation capacity of the crime.
Operation Golden Border – November
In November, the Federal Police acted in partnership with the Colombian police in an operation in the border region of the Amazon.
Operation Hekurawetaris III – November
Also in November, a three-day operation resulted in the location and destruction of 10 dredges in rivers in Amazonas.
Images released by the corporation showed the direct impact of the action on the infrastructure of illegal mining.
Structural Fight Against Organized Crime in the Amazon
According to the Federal Police, the set of operations reinforces a strategy of depriving organized crime of its resources.
Thus, by destroying equipment, blocking resources, and interrupting logistical routes, the goal is to make illegal mining economically unviable.
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