Brazil cracks down on illegal gold mining and mining corruption

Federal authorities carried out a large operation in the Sararé Indigenous Territory in Mato Grosso, seizing equipment and more than 1.5 tonnes of explosives used for illegal gold mining. The action, involving ministries and federal agencies, resulted in an estimated R$ 93.3 million loss to the illegal activity, 124 people were taken to the Federal Police station and 45 were arrested on the spot. Among the seized items were 29 hydraulic excavators, 284 generators, 345 small‑scale machines, 726 mining engines and 81 motorcycles.

Separately, the Operation Rejeito investigation in Minas Gerais uncovered a multibillion‑real scheme involving corruption, money‑laundering and environmental crimes in the legal mining sector. A recent claim by a defendant alleges that the Federal Police failed to disclose a R$ 500,000 deposit sent to state deputy Roberto Dias de Andrade to the Supreme Court, prompting a request for the case to be overseen by the Federal Regional Court of the 6th Region. The liminar on this request has not yet been decided.