Amazon illegal mining linked to organized crime and indigenous threats

Illegal gold mining in the Amazon has evolved into a complex criminal enterprise known as ‘narcogarimpo,’ where environmental crimes converge with drug, arms, and human trafficking, as well as forced labor and money laundering. A study by the IISS indicates that while increased environmental oversight under the Lula administration helped reduce irregular gold origins from a peak in 2022 to approximately 8% by 2025, organized crime continues to dominate the logistics and distribution of the metal.

In the Amazonas region, specifically near Itapiranga and Silves, the presence of isolated indigenous groups remains a critical concern. Organizations such as Cimi and the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) have released a documentary to highlight the urgent need for state protection. Local residents and human rights agents report sightings of indigenous people living in voluntary isolation, emphasizing that without formal land use restrictions, these communities remain vulnerable to the encroaching violence and environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and organized crime.