Supreme Court authorizes investigation about Environment Minister’s involvement in illegal lumber trade

Justice Cármen Lúcia, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), authorized, at the request of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), the opening of an investigation against the Minister of the Environment, Ricardo Salles.

The investigation will focus on the alleged attempts by the minister to hinder the work of the Federal Police during Operation Handroanthus, which carried out the largest seizure of illegal timber in Brazil, in December 2020. The investigation will listen to the minister, landowners, environmental agents and documents related to the incident.

Salles’ press office stated that “the investigation will show that there is no crime.”