Dredgers used in illegal mining in the Amazon obtain registration without an environmental license, points out MPF

The number of dredgers destroyed in the PF operation against illegal mining in Amazonas rises to 98

Dredgers and rafts used in illegal mining in Amazon rivers are registered with the Navy without proving authorization for mining activity or an environmental license. The failure was identified by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), which filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Amazonas to force the Union to reinforce control over these vessels.

The investigation also highlighted difficulties in holding accountable the owners of structures destroyed in anti-mining operations. According to the MPF, the Navy stops opening administrative proceedings in these cases under the justification of "loss of materiality".

For the agency, failures in registration and inspection help to maintain illegal activity, which quickly reorganizes even after combat operations.

The action also warns of the activities of environmental crime networks which, according to the MPF, operate in connection with the logistics of drug trafficking and the financing of criminal factions.

Currently, dredgers and suction barges can obtain the Vessel Registration Title (TIE) from the Port Authority without presenting an environmental license or proving that they have authorization to extract minerals.

In the opinion of Public Prosecutor André Luiz Porreca Ferreira Cunha, author of the action, issuing the document without these checks gives an "appearance of legality" to vessels built and used exclusively for clandestine mining.

The MPF wants the Navy to start requiring an environmental license and mining title granted by the National Mining Agency (ANM) to register these structures. It also requests inspections with geolocated photographs before issuing or renewing documents.

Even after operations, mining manages to reorganize itself

The investigation points out that the destruction of ferries and dredgers does not, in itself, prevent the resumption of mining. According to the MPF, new structures are quickly rebuilt in shipyards and clandestine naval workshops spread across the region.

Controlling this activity faces a logistical challenge. The Command of the 9th Naval District, based in Manaus, is responsible for more than 20 thousand kilometers of waterways in the Western Amazon, where around 35 thousand vessels circulate.

The Navy informed the MPF that it had issued 392 infraction notices against structures involved in illegal activity. Still, the federal agency points out the need to expand inspections and ensure that owners can be held responsible even when vessels are destroyed.

What the MPF wants to change

In the action, the Federal Public Ministry asks the Court to force the Union to adopt four measures:

Within 30 days: create a procedure to receive complaints and evidence from agencies such as Ibama, ICMBio, Federal Police and Funai and open administrative proceedings against the owners, even after the destruction of the vessels.

Within 30 days: require inspections and photographs with geographic location before issuing or renewing documents for dredgers and ferries.

Within 60 days: present a periodic inspection plan in shipyards, naval workshops and vessel repair sites.

Within 120 days: make satellite tracking of dredgers in real time mandatory, with integration with the Amazon Protection System (Censipam) and the Navy's Maritime Traffic Information System (Sistram).

The requests still depend on a decision by the Federal Court.