Operation São Benedito combats illegal mining and dismantles criminal structure in southwestern Pará
The objective was to dismantle illegal mining activities, especially the unauthorized extraction of gold, in environmental protection areas
An integrated action coordinated by the State Secretariat for the Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas) and the Secretariat of Public Security and Social Defense (Segup) was completed last Sunday, June 22, in the municipality of Jacareacanga, in southwestern Pará. State agents launched the "Operation São Benedito," with support from police and environmental forces of the State. The objective was to dismantle illegal mining activities, especially the unauthorized extraction of gold, in environmental protection areas and in the bed of the São Manoel River.
The operation took place within the São Benedito and Azul Rivers Wildlife Refuge (Revis), a conservation unit of integral protection in the region, and resulted in the seizure and destruction of 20 vessels used for mining. Among them were ten dredges, seven floating barges, and three tugboats. An illegal shipyard installed within the conservation unit, used for the construction and maintenance of vessels, was also dismantled.
In addition to the vessels, four camps used as logistical support bases for illegal mining were destroyed. The structures were located in remote areas of the Revis and along the São Manoel River, which flows through riverside and indigenous communities in the region.
During the operation, 18 Seizure Terms, 18 Destruction Terms, and one Deposit Term were issued. A vessel supporting sport fishing was fined for operating without environmental authorization. Among the seized items were a Starlink satellite internet device, a container of mercury, coils of galvanized cable, fuel drums, a concrete mixer, oxy-acetylene gas cylinders, and a boat hull.
In addition to field actions, the operation also advanced investigations: a police inquiry was initiated, a police report was filed, and two declaration terms were formalized.
Raul Protazio Romão, Secretary of the Environment and Sustainability of Pará, highlighted the integration between state agencies as a decisive factor for the success of the operation. “The coordinated participation of different state agencies, such as the Independent River Police Company, the Special Operations Battalion, the Public Security Air Group, the Civil Police, the Scientific Police, and the Military Fire Brigade, was fundamental for the success of the operation. The presence of specialized forces ensured the safety of the agents and the effectiveness of actions in hard-to-reach areas with a history of resistance from offenders,” he explained.
"We continue to act in a very strongly integrated manner to combat, more and more, illicit activities in all regions of the State. This time, the results of the action helped us advance in investigations and in dismantling criminal practices in hard-to-reach areas. The action demonstrates the strength and presence of the State in combating environmental crimes that have achieved good results," said the head of Segup, Ualame Machado.
The São Benedito and Azul Rivers Wildlife Refuge (Revis) is located in the municipalities of Jacareacanga and Novo Progresso, in the southwestern region. It is a Conservation Unit that occupies more than 30 thousand hectares, playing an important role in preserving biodiversity and combating deforestation.
