25 May 2026: Federal Highway Police (PRF) officers in Pará, Brazil, seized 13 kilograms of illegal gold last month, one of the largest gold seizures this year.
The officers intercepted a vehicle in Altamira (Pará) and discovered a concealed compartment containing 13 kilograms of gold, with an estimated value exceeding USD 2 million. The driver was unable to provide documentation proving the legal origin of the material, leading to his arrest and further investigation by judicial authorities.
Earlier this year, PRF officers from key locations across Pará had participated in the “Rotas do Minério” training, a joint initiative with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) focused on mineral inspection, advanced search techniques and the identification of illicit activities linked to illegal gold transport.
“These trainings provide practical tools that enhance officers’ performance in the field. The gold seizure in Altamira is a direct reflection of this impact, as the operation was carried out by officers who had recently participated in the Rotas do Minério Operation training held in Santarém in March", said Federal Highway Police Officer Marcelo David Lima, coordinator of the Environmental Crimes Unit (SECAM).
“This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of our cooperation and shows that, by combining technical expertise, intelligence and adequate resources, it is possible to more effectively combat organized crime and protect the country’s natural resources.”
Illegal gold mining and associated trafficking routes are often linked to broader forms of organized crime, including money laundering, corruption and violence.
The trainings form part of a broader cooperation between UNODC and Brazilian authorities to combat environmental and economic crimes along federal highways, particularly in the Amazon region. It also aligns with national strategies such as the “Plano Amazônia: Segurança e Soberania (AMAS)”, which seeks to reinforce prevention and enforcement actions against illegal activities including wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and illicit mining.
Beyond enforcement outcomes, tackling illegal mining is essential to safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of vulnerable and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. These communities are often disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, contamination of water sources and the social impacts associated with illicit economies.
Seizures like the one in Altamira contribute to protecting ecosystems that sustain local populations and preserving the territories on which Indigenous groups depend. The impact of organized crimes that affect the environment is also reflected in UNODC’s recent SAR-TI and TAPAJOS publications, which underline how criminal activities intersect with vulnerabilities in remote and underserved areas. Addressing environmental crime is therefore not only an environmental priority but also a critical component of protecting people from exploitation and strengthening community resilience.
The Altamira seizure demonstrates the direct link between capacity-building and operational results. By equipping officers with practical tools and knowledge, UNODC supports Member States in strengthening criminal justice responses to complex and evolving forms of organized crime.
The March training will be followed up by additional joint trainings between UNODC and the Federal Highway Police to tackle crimes that affect the environment throughout 2026, with a particular focus on combating illegal gold mining and its smuggling along Brazil's federal highways.
* The AURUM (Preventing illegal gold mining in the Amazon) project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States Department of State.
