Global giants Apple and Microsoft are accused of buying illegal gold from the Amazon. Google and Amazon are also involved in the transaction.

Reporter Brasil's investigation points out that gold stolen from the Amazon has been used for the production of technological devices by Apple and Microsoft, as well as Google and Amazon superservers

According to the information, the companies Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon are part of the RMI – Responsible Minerals Initiative –, an association that audits the refiner Marsam. Marsam refining is the main buyer of gold from FD' Gold and is currently accredited for trading, even acquiring gold investigated for illegality. 

However, FD'Gold is an independent Distributor of Titles and Securities, and is also a defendant in a lawsuit that asks for the stoppage of its activities in Pará, due to an accusation made by the MPF (Federal Public Prosecutor's Office) for buying mined gold of indigenous lands.

Illegal purchases of gold from the Amazon took place in the years 2020 and 2021

The portal reveals that, according to the documents obtained, the purchases took place in the years 2020 and 2021 through the Italian company Chimet, which has also been investigated for being the “destination point” of the entire movement. 

Although there are projects, spearheaded by President Jair Bolsonaro, for the legalization of mineral extraction in indigenous lands, the action has not yet been authorized. 

This type of extraction is considered one of the greatest threats to the Amazon region. Experts show that the action cannot be treated as a “handmade way”, as they want to impose through legislation.  

Apple says it has ended all work with Marsam

Both companies are obliged to send to the SEC, the US body corresponding to the Securities and Exchange Commission, a list of their suppliers in relation to all the metals used in their productions, at the moment in which the interactions between the companies were verified. 

Two months later, the investigated companies still haven't commented on the matter. Of the four, only Apple says it has ended any work with Marsam. 

Recapping 

It all starts in Kayapó, according to the Federal Police, where the company CHM buys most of the illegal gold. Soon after, the contact arrives at Chimet, which already had a total of BRL 2,1 billion in bank transfers to the initial company as a form of payment. From Italy, the metals are transferred to the United States and reach the large North American companies mentioned above.