Amazon region faces economic growth and rising organized crime

The Amazon region is currently navigating complex economic and security shifts. On the economic front, the Amazonas state is positioning itself as a strategic business hub for Latin America. The Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM) remains a central financial driver, reporting a revenue of R$ 58.26 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 2.24% increase from the previous year. To support this growth and the potential for bioeconomy and Pacific trade connections, there is an increasing emphasis on improving logistics and infrastructure, highlighted by the upcoming TranspoAmazônia 2027 event.

Simultaneously, the region faces significant security challenges due to organized crime. A report by the Global Initiative indicates that criminal factions, including the PCC and Comando Vermelho, are expanding their influence in the Amazon. These groups are increasingly reinvesting cocaine trafficking profits into illegal gold mining. The high international demand for gold, particularly in Europe, provides a lucrative and difficult-to-trace asset that facilitates large-scale drug transactions. Trafficking routes are also evolving, with shipments being redirected through Amapá and French Guiana to reach European markets.