Brazilian police launch operation against illegal gold trade in the north of the country

The Brazilian Federal Police launched an operation against the illegal gold trade in the state of Roraima (north, on the border with Venezuela), related to the illegal garimpo crisis on Yanomami indigenous land.

In a statement, the corporation informed that operation Avis Áurea “aims to investigate a criminal organization, with cells in at least three states, which would be involved in purchasing illicit gold from the state of Roraima”.

According to the police, the money to buy the illegal gold came from Brazil’s southeast and center-west regions to the city of Boa Vista (capital of Roraima) on trips that could take more than a week by car.

To get the illegal gold out of Roraima, the group would count on the support of an airline official, who would get it on commercial flights.

Among those investigated are businessmen, lawyers, and even a Boa Vista city hall public official.

One of the companies suspected of participating in the scheme was already involved in the police action that confiscated 111 kilos of gold in an airplane in Goiânia (state of Goiás, center-west).

The criminal organization allegedly moved at least R$422 million (US$82 million) over five years, according to police.

With information from Sputnik

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