Assets worth over $64 million were seized and 94 people were arrested in a recent multinational law enforcement operation targeting environmental crime in the Amazon Basin. The crackdown, spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates, dealt a significant blow to transnational environmental crime networks, according to officials.
The campaign, known as Operation Green Shield, took place from June 23 to July 6 and involved more than 1,500 officers from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Over 350 coordinated raids were conducted to combat illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, logging, and fuel smuggling in some of the Amazon’s most remote and ecologically sensitive regions.
The UAE’s Ministry of Interior led the operation through the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), a platform established in 2023 to support climate-related policing efforts. A central command center was set up in Bogota, Colombia, for real-time data sharing among the participating countries.
Lt. Col. Dana Humaid, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau at the UAE Ministry of Interior and Coordinator of I2LEC, emphasized the importance of combatting environmental crime, stating that these crimes not only harm nature but also displace communities, fuel violence against women and children, and erode cultural heritage.
During the operation, authorities seized more than 310 tons of raw minerals, 3,800 cubic meters of timber, 39,000 gallons of smuggled fuel, and 530 pieces of equipment, including trucks and bulldozers. Additionally, over 2,100 live animals and 6,350 dead specimens were recovered from illegal wildlife trafficking networks.
Raids and arrests were carried out simultaneously across various locations in the Amazon, including Indigenous territories in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. In Peru, authorities rescued 1,400 live animals and dismantled a criminal group involved in trafficking endangered species. In Colombia, three criminal groups were disrupted, including one linked to the powerful Clan del Golfo organized crime syndicate.
The use of satellite-based geolocation tools enabled teams to coordinate across borders and monitor operations in real-time, making it one of the most synchronized environmental enforcement actions in the region. Colombian authorities lauded the operation as a significant step in combating illegal mining, fuel theft, and wildlife trafficking.
The participation of Ecuador in an I2LEC-led operation was described as a critical step, while Peru’s Gen. Manuel ElÃas Lozada Morales highlighted the effectiveness of the campaign in protecting one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. Brazil’s federal coordinator for Amazon and environmental protection, Renato Madsen Arruda, emphasized the disruption of illegal gold mining operations in remote areas.
As follow-up investigations continue, officials anticipate further arrests and seizures related to environmental crimes in the Amazon Basin.
