Illegal gold diggers close the highway BR-163 in protest against the government

In a protest against inspection actions by the Federal Police and the environmental agency Ibama illegal gold diggers blocked the BR-163 highway, an important grain route in the country, in the early hours of March 11. The protesters even warned President Jair Bolsonaro of the blockade through the “Manifesto of the Independent Miners of Alto Tapajós,” sent to the government, in which they criticize the “truculent actions of the federal government through its agencies that should be inspectors and educators, but have been destructive”.

On the morning of the 13th, they halted the blockade of the road, in the region of Itaituba, state of Pará, on the right bank of the Tapajós River, after a judicial notification was sent to the representative of the gold diggers of Alto Tapajós.

Since February, the region of Itaituba and Jacareacanga have been the center of operations against illegal mining, resulting in the destruction of machinery used in the activities, such as excavators, gold mining rafts, cars and engines. The damaged goods add up to about R$14 million, according to police estimates. In the same month, the miners even blocked the ICMBio headquarters in response to the seizures.