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Greenpeace investigation shows how permits without real mining help mask the origin of gold illegally extracted in the Amazon rainforest.
The illegal gold exploitation in the Brazilian Amazon continues to move billions of dollars and challenge federal oversight.
According to a Greenpeace investigation, released by Reuters in May 2026, mining permits issued for areas without actual activity are being used to give a legal appearance to metal extracted from clandestine mines.
The survey also indicates that the scheme remained active even after the federal government’s operations against illegal mining were reinforced since 2023.
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The study shows that mining authorizations without signs of extraction act as a documentary facade.
In practice, gold extracted from irregular areas can enter the market with the appearance of legal origin.
According to Greenpeace, about 26.8 tons of gold were traded through these permits between 2018 and March 2026.
This volume moved approximately US$ 3.88 billion, according to the data cited in the investigation.
Investigation reveals use of licenses without real mining
The investigation analyzed 187 forest areas with authorizations issued by the National Mining Agency.
These areas are located near indigenous territories and environmental protection units in the Brazilian Amazon.
However, 98 areas showed no signs of mining activity, despite the formal existence of the permits.
The survey indicates that some of these licenses may have been used to justify the sale of gold extracted elsewhere.
According to Greenpeace, this mechanism makes it difficult to track the metal and favors the persistence of illegal mining.
The practice creates a documentary layer that masks the real origin of the gold.
Flyovers show contrast between licensed areas and active mining
During the investigation, Reuters teams flew over two areas included in the study.
Despite formal authorizations, journalists found no signs of mining at these locations.
Shortly after, an active illegal operation was identified in a protected area just minutes away by flight.
This contrast reinforced suspicions about the use of permits without actual mining.
The records also raised doubts about the capacity for oversight in remote forest regions.
The presence of illegal mining operations near protected areas heightened environmental concerns.
Indigenous territories suffer from contaminated rivers and loss of wildlife
Part of the analyzed material points to a connection with areas near indigenous territories.
Among them are regions linked to the Kayapó people in the state of Pará.
Local leaders report severe environmental impacts caused by the advance of illegal mining.
According to these reports, river contamination and loss of wildlife directly affect the communities’ food supply.
The pressure on traditional areas threatens the routine of populations that depend on the forest.
Thus, the problem goes beyond the economic sphere and reaches social and environmental dimensions.
Oversight faces large-scale challenge in the Amazon
The National Mining Agency reported that it is monitoring the cases cited by Greenpeace.
The agency also highlighted that the large volume of authorizations in the Amazon represents a large-scale oversight challenge.
Even so, Greenpeace claims that permits issued for unexplored areas facilitate the continuation of illegal mining.
The case exposes a significant weakness in the control of the gold supply chain.
With nearly US$ 4 billion transacted and dozens of areas without actual mining, the investigation shows how formal documents can sustain a market of questionable origin.
After all, if illegal gold can circulate with the appearance of legality, how can we ensure that the wealth extracted from the Amazon does not continue to finance environmental destruction?
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