Criminal Gang Operates Inside Brazil’s Guajará Mirim State Park: financial crimes, environmental violations, and corporate involvement
Overview
In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Guajará Mirim State Park in Rondônia, Brazil, has become a hub for illegal activities, with a criminal gang accused of various financial crimes operating within its borders. This full protection conservation unit, which covers 200,000 hectares and is home to endangered species and possibly isolated indigenous peoples, has been exploited for illegal cattle breeding, money laundering, tax evasion, false representation, extortion, and embezzlement.
Environmental Crimes and Cattle Smuggling
The latest investigations suggest that the group involves owners of adjacent farms who use these lands to launder cattle raised illegally inside the park. Between November 2023 and April 2024, 605 head of cattle were illegally grazed within the park. These animals, owned by an invader, were seized to prevent them from being sold in the open market.
- Seized Cattle: The cattle were monitored 24 hours a day by the Rondônia shock battalion to ensure they were not removed.
- Environmental Impact: The Guajará Mirim State Park, a place where cattle breeding is prohibited, is home to endangered species and may be an area inhabited by isolated indigenous peoples. The park has become a hotspot for environmental crimes, risking the biodiversity of the region.
Financial Crimes and Corporate Involvement
The illegalities extend beyond environmental crimes: authorities claim that members of the gang have been involved in money laundering, tax evasion, and false representation cases in the past two years. Cattle is the common denominator linking these illegalities, and documents reveal deals between those accused of the crimes and some of Brazil’s largest meatpacking companies, such as JBS, Marfrig, and Frigon.
Resistance to Protect the Guajará Mirim State Park
Operation Mapinguari, led by the Rondônia Environmental Police Battalion, is a large-scale operation aimed at clearing the park and preventing the return of invaders. The operation has been met with resistance, including attempts to remove seized cattle, and illegal activities continue to threaten the park.
Community-Led Efforts
The fight to protect the Guajará Mirim State Park involves not only law enforcement but also community-led efforts. Indigenous activist Neidinha Suruí observes that several areas surrounding the park have been targeted by invasions, putting vital biodiversity and indigenous lands at risk.
- Indigenous Peoples: The Karipuna people, whose territory borders the park, have found evidence of uncontacted indigenous peoples in the area. If these indigenous peoples are threatened, they will be in grave danger.
Conclusion
The ongoing fight to protect the Guajará Mirim State Park involves a complex web of criminal activity and corporate involvement that threatens the Amazon rainforest’s welfare, endangered species, and indigenous communities. Despite these challenges, the resilience of the Rondônia shock battalion and the commitment of indigenous communities continue to offer hope for the restoration of this invaluable piece of the Amazon to its rightful status as a protected haven for wildlife, indigenous peoples, and the future of Brazil.