Pirates attack fishermen on Brazil's Rio Solimões, police seize two boats

Armed pirates boarded a fishing vessel on the Rio Solimões between the municipalities of Tonantins and Benjamin Constant in Brazil's Amazonas state on Wednesday, 30th. The crew was forced to surrender and several fishermen were beaten, one sustaining multiple bruises. Police units from the Base Fluvial Arpão responded, locating and confiscating two boats used by the assailants. Inside the abandoned vessels authorities recovered firearms, large‑calibre ammunition, a gas cylinder, a generator and other equipment. No suspects have been arrested and searches for the perpetrators continue. Captain Dilson Castro of the Amazonas Military Police said, “Pessoal, continuando a nossa operação, acabamos de pegar a outra embarcação dos piratas. Eles estavam com essas duas embarcações tocando o terror aqui na região.” The seized material has been forwarded to investigators for further action.