Illegal Amazon cassiterite allegedly supplied global tech giants

Investigations by the Brazilian Federal Police and the Federal Public Ministry have uncovered a scheme involving the illegal extraction and laundering of cassiterite from the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in the Amazon. The cassiterite, a raw material used to extract tin for electronic components, was allegedly processed through fraudulent documentation to appear legal before entering global supply chains.

Documents from ‘Operation Hephaestus Forgery’ suggest that the scheme involved the company White Solder, which is facing legal action for participating in the receipt, refining, and fraudulent regularization of the ore. The operation reportedly moved at least R$ 200 million between 2020 and 2025. Additionally, the Cooperativa de Produtores de Estanho do Brasil (Coopertin) is accused of issuing false invoices to simulate legal production from mining titles that were not actually being exploited.

The investigation indicates that the laundered minerals reached the supply chains of major global corporations, including technology giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Sony, as well as companies like Starbucks, Caterpillar, and PepsiCo. Legal efforts to seek reparations for the damages caused by this scheme may reach up to R$ 1.7 billion.