Federal Police carries out an operation against illegal diamond mining in indigenous lands

On March 16, the Federal Police carried out the Operation Investor to dismantle a criminal network specialized in illegal diamond mining in the Sete de Setembro and Roosevelt Indigenous Lands, where the Suruís and the Cinta-Larga indigenous peoples live, respectively, in the municipalities of Cacoal and Espigão, in the state of Rondônia. The agents conducted Seven search and seizure warrants in the cities of Espigão do Oeste (RO), Cerejeiras (RO), Clementina (SP), Montenegro (RS), and Domingos Martins (ES).

“During the course of the investigations, the police identified the investors of the mining operation, in addition to intermediaries, miners and indigenous people involved,” the Federal Police told G1. After the illegal extraction in Rondônia, the diamonds were sold abroad.

The Roosevelt Indigenous Land, ratified in 1991, has for decades been the target of dispute between indigenous people and environmental criminals because of its privileged location for mining activities. The region is home to one of the largest diamond mines in the world, with the capacity to produce at least one million carats of precious stones per year. The advance of illegal mining has brought conflicts of various kinds to the Cinta-Larga people - including the stigma that they are a “rich” people who do not need assistance from the state - as well as great environmental impact. The legalization of the activity, with indigenous participation, divides opinions among local leaders.