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Brazilian police to raid environment minister’s home as part of probe into illegal timber smuggling ring | Brazilian police to raid environment minister’s home as part of probe into illegal timber smuggling ring |
(about 2 months later) | |
Police in Brazil are targeting the country’s environment minister as well as the head of the Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) as part of a major investigation into a wood-smuggling ring. | Police in Brazil are targeting the country’s environment minister as well as the head of the Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) as part of a major investigation into a wood-smuggling ring. |
On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes waived the anonymity of the two officials to announce they were being investigated, along with nine others from Ibama. | On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes waived the anonymity of the two officials to announce they were being investigated, along with nine others from Ibama. |
The judge has stripped the president of Ibama, Eduardo Bim, and a number of his colleagues of their responsibilities, while Environment Minister Ricardo Salles has retained his cabinet position, according to Reuters. | The judge has stripped the president of Ibama, Eduardo Bim, and a number of his colleagues of their responsibilities, while Environment Minister Ricardo Salles has retained his cabinet position, according to Reuters. |
De Moraes also granted police access to Salles’ bank and tax records and issued 35 search warrants as part of the inquiry. | De Moraes also granted police access to Salles’ bank and tax records and issued 35 search warrants as part of the inquiry. |
Deforestation in the Amazon hit a 12-year high last year. Environmental activists have called for Salles’ removal from office over his efforts to ease nature safeguards and enforcement during his tenure. | Deforestation in the Amazon hit a 12-year high last year. Environmental activists have called for Salles’ removal from office over his efforts to ease nature safeguards and enforcement during his tenure. |
Some 160 federal police officers are reportedly involved in searching properties in the Federal District and the states of Para and Sao Paulo, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo. | Some 160 federal police officers are reportedly involved in searching properties in the Federal District and the states of Para and Sao Paulo, according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo. |
Those under investigation were allegedly involved in some 8,000 shipments of illegally exported timber between 2019 and 2020, some of which were seized in the US and Europe. | Those under investigation were allegedly involved in some 8,000 shipments of illegally exported timber between 2019 and 2020, some of which were seized in the US and Europe. |
The allegations are being investigated as part of ‘Operation Akuanduba’, which is looking at the potential involvement of civil servants and businessmen in corruption and smuggling within the timber industry. | The allegations are being investigated as part of ‘Operation Akuanduba’, which is looking at the potential involvement of civil servants and businessmen in corruption and smuggling within the timber industry. |
Police launched the operation in January after receiving a tip-off from authorities abroad about how and where Brazilian wood was being exported. | Police launched the operation in January after receiving a tip-off from authorities abroad about how and where Brazilian wood was being exported. |
It takes its name from the Brazilian deity “Akuanduba” from the state of Para, who according to folklore, would sound his flute to bring about order in the world. | It takes its name from the Brazilian deity “Akuanduba” from the state of Para, who according to folklore, would sound his flute to bring about order in the world. |
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! |