Brazil: Illegal gold mining and permit laundering uncovered

Authorities and environmental organizations are uncovering widespread irregularities in gold mining operations across Brazil. In Peixoto de Azevedo, Mato Grosso, the Environmental Protection Military Police Battalion (BPMPA) seized heavy machinery and equipment after discovering illegal mining activities. While the operation held a valid license, the extraction was occurring outside the authorized area and involved the suppression of native vegetation.

In Pará, Greenpeace Brasil identified a “ghost” mining permit used to launder illegally extracted gold in the Amazon. An investigation into the Cooperativa dos Garimpeiros da Amazônia (COOGAM) in the Alto Tapajós region revealed that licensed dredges were operating outside their permitted limits, specifically within the Munduruku Indigenous Territory. Satellite imagery and flyovers confirmed that no mining activity occurred within the officially declared area, despite millions of reais in gold transactions being reported under that permit. The illegal operations have caused significant environmental damage, including sediment accumulation and mercury concentration in the Tapajós River.