Brazil strengthens security forces to fight crime in Amazon region

Brazil’s government announced an augmentation in security forces in the Amazon region to counteract organized crime, encompassing environmental offenses, drug and arms trafficking.

This decision was disclosed by Flávio Dino, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, during the inaugural Environmental Judicial Summit in Belém, the capital city of the state of Pará.

This is a part of a series of events preceding the Amazon Summit, hosted by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aimed at discussing the protection of the world’s largest rainforest.

Criminal groups involving mining, deforestation, and trafficking of arms and timber operate within the Amazon, Dino confirmed.

Brazil houses 60% of the Amazon rainforest, a biome shared with Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana.

Dino revealed that the enhanced security presence would be coordinated from Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state and the largest city in the South American Amazon.

“We need to expand our presence in the Amazon territory. We are mobilizing about 2 billion reais (410 million dollars) with our security command and control structures,” Dino stated.

The event also discussed the role of the Judiciary in matters related to the environment, climate change, and environmental crimes.

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