Rio de Janeiro environmental licensing probe sees top official suspended

The Ministry of Public Prosecution of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) launched Operation Hidra de Lerna on 7 July to investigate alleged corruption and irregularities in the granting of environmental licences by the state environmental agency INEA and the State Environmental Control Commission (CECA). A judge ordered the precautionary removal of Maurício Couto Cesar Junior, president of CECA and INEA employee, and authorised 14 search and seizure warrants targeting him and other officials, including former INEA president Renato Jordão Bussiere and former vice‑president José Dias da Silva.

Investigators say the scheme involved crimes of corruption, administrative advocacy, prevarication and environmental offences, with licences and exemptions from impact‑study requirements allegedly granted to high‑impact projects between 2024 and 2025 despite technical objections from INEA staff and the federal agency Ibama. Searches were carried out in several Rio neighbourhoods and in Maricá, seizing electronics, cash, euros, luxury watches and a firearm; one suspect was arrested for illegal possession of a gun.

The court also ordered the breaking of electronic‑device confidentiality and barred Junior from accessing INEA or CECA facilities or contacting their staff while the investigation continues.