Brazilian Police Launch
Operation Against Illegal Logging in Amazon
BRASILIA - Brazilian federal police have
arrested 60 suspects across the country in
an operation to fight against illegal
logging in the Amazon.
The operation was conducted in 91 cities in
the states of Mato Grosso, Sao Paulo,
Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and Espirito
Santo, and aimed at a group formed by
loggers, ranchers, foresters and employees
at the State Secretariat of Environment (SEMA)
in Mato Grosso.
The group was suspected of exploiting forest
products in the part of Amazon forest
located in the state of Mato Grosso, mainly
in the interior and surroundings of
indigenous lands and national parks.
Environmental damage caused is estimated at
about 900 million reais (480 million
dollars).
SEMA employees were suspected of issuing
fraudulent licensing and forest management
plans, which were necessary for the
legalization and trade of extracted timber
in public areas.
The detainees will be charged with crimes of
conspiracy, active and passive corruption,
theft, illegal land appropriation,
misrepresentation, false data entry in
computer system and several criminal
offenses under Brazil's Law of Environmental
Crimes. |
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