Amazon Countries Unite in Major Crackdown on Environmental Crime

Police forces from five Amazon countries have conducted extensive operations resulting in hundreds of arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of timber, minerals, and livestock. These efforts marked one of the largest collective initiatives to combat environmental crime in the Amazon rainforest.

Operation Green Shield 2026

From July 15-31, authorities in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru executed Operation Green Shield 2026. More than 3,600 officers participated in this mission, focusing on tackling illegal activities such as mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, fuel smuggling, and land grabbing.

Significant Seizures and Arrests

The operation led to 839 arrests through 1,045 field actions. Over 280,000 cubic meters of illegally harvested timber, equivalent to filling around 110 Olympic-sized swimming pools, were confiscated. Additionally, 195 metric tons of minerals and mining equipment, including resources like gold, carbon, iron, and copper, were seized.

Authorities also rescued over 3,000 live animals and recovered at least 430 dead creatures involved in wildlife trafficking. These included snakes, birds, lizards, and fish.

Environmental Crime in the Amazon

Environmental crime ranks as one of the Amazon’s most lucrative illicit industries. The demand for gold, timber, and wildlife on a global scale drives this illegal market. Investigations reveal that criminal networks often engage in multiple illegal activities, sharing routes and financial systems across borders.

International Cooperation and Coordination

Law enforcement agencies recognize the growing need for cross-border collaboration as these criminal groups frequently transport people and goods across neighboring countries to evade capture. The Colombian capital, Bogota, served as the coordination center for the operation, managed by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), supported by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime since 2023.

This year’s crackdown follows a similar multinational initiative in 2025, involving over 1,500 officers from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. These operations highlight the critical importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement efforts across national borders.

Col. Dana Humaid from the UAE Ministry of Interior emphasized the importance of collaboration in combating transnational crime, suggesting that joint efforts yield stronger outcomes. The value of seized goods during the operation exceeded $280 million.

Commitment to Protect Natural Resources

Colombian National Police Director Gen. William Oswaldo Rincón Zambrano highlighted how intelligence sharing facilitated coordinated enforcement actions. “Protecting our natural resources requires a shared response,” he stated.

Peruvian Police Environmental Chief Gen. J. Manuel Cruz Chamba echoed the sentiment, noting that environmental crimes transcend borders and necessitate international cooperation.

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