MPF report highlights crime network, illegal mining and actions by Comando Vermelho in Amazonas

A report by the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in Amazonas, obtained by g1, brings together investigations that point to a network of crimes in mining sites in the state, with the illegal extraction of more than 290 kilos of gold in two cases. The investigations also identified 56 workers in conditions similar to slavery, use of mercury and cyanide and environmental damage estimated at more than R$1.7 billion, in addition to the influence of the Comando Vermelho faction.

The document brings together Gaeco's main activities between July 2025 and June 2026. The report was forwarded to the MPF Superior Council and analyzed by Deputy Attorney General Samantha Chantal Dobrowolski.

Among the cases are the Jurupari and Barões do Filão operations, which investigated illegal gold exploration, in addition to the Brazilian Cricket and Roque operations and other investigations into drug trafficking, money laundering and the activities of the Comando Vermelho faction in Amazonas.

The largest amount of gold appears in Operation Jurupari. According to the agency's complaint, a criminal organization extracted at least 219 kilos of gold over approximately three years. The MPF classified the estimate as conservative and calculated the environmental damage caused by the activity at R$1.5 billion.

The complaint points out that companies and third parties were used to give the appearance of legality to operations, justify the circulation of values ​​incompatible with the declared activities and hide the origin of the gold. In April 2026, Gaeco filed two complaints related to the case.

One of those reported was army lieutenant colonel Abimael Alves Pinto. During the investigation, the military's telephone confidentiality was breached. In an audio message, he warned miners about an operation in the São Gabriel da Cachoeira region, on the border with Venezuela and Colombia. In another section, he details the dynamics of the agents’ actions.

g1 tries to locate Abimael Alves Pinto's defense.

The other investigation is Operation Barões do Filão, launched in August 2025 to investigate illegal gold exploration in Filão do Abacaxis, within the Urupadi National Forest, in Maués.

According to the MPF, around 71.1 kilos of gold were identified and a structure divided between mining management, well operation, armed security, financial administration and ore sales.

Barões do Filão's complaint also pointed out that 56 workers were subjected to conditions similar to slavery. The case also involves environmental crimes and the use of toxic substances in gold processing.

"Based on the technical elements gathered in the records, the usurpation of approximately 71.1 kilos of gold was verified, in addition to the submission of 56 workers to conditions similar to slavery and the occurrence of socio-environmental and property damage in the estimated minimum value of R$267 million", says an excerpt from the document.

A technical estimate by Gaeco showed that around 8.5 kilos of mercury were converted into methylmercury, a more toxic form of the chemical element, and incorporated into the food chain. The investigation also identified the removal of soil, the opening of wells, the destruction of vegetation and the dumping of waste into waterways in the Abacaxis River basin.

The operation resulted in the arrest of those under investigation and the seizure of gold, cell phones, computers, documents, vehicles and weapons. In one of the residences, agents found a 5.56 caliber rifle, a submachine gun, a shotgun, a revolver and more than 400 rounds of ammunition.

At another address, around 140 grams of undocumented gold and an illegal weapon were seized. According to the report, one of those investigated tried to destroy cell phones with a hammer before the agents entered.

In addition to cases involving mining, the report details investigations into the actions of Comando Vermelho in Amazonas. The cases related to the faction appear in operations distinct from investigations that focused on illegal gold exploration.

In February 2026, Gaeco denounced 13 people for transnational drug trafficking, criminal organization, money laundering, tax evasion and use of false documents. According to the MPF, the proceeds from trafficking were deposited in "orange" accounts, and part of the money was converted into crypto assets and sent to digital wallets on the Tron network.

The complaint also named Alan Sérgio Martins Batista, known as “Alan Índio”, “Índio”, “Sangue Azul” and “Paizão”, as a member of a prominent position in the structure of Comando Vermelho in Amazonas. According to the MPF, he was part of the faction's so-called Permanent Council and exerted influence over members who worked in different areas of Manaus.

Operation Roque, launched in November 2025, investigated the so-called legal core of Comando Vermelho in Amazonas. Four lawyers were arrested and denounced for belonging to the criminal organization.

According to Gaeco, they were internally called “CV Ties” and used access to prisons and private communication with inmates to transmit information between imprisoned members and external leaders of the faction.

"The use of the penitentiary system's virtual parlor was also found to be used to record videos and forward messages from inmates to external leaders. The lawyers visited prisoners appointed by the leadership, collected the so-called “visions”, orders or strategic deliberations, and relayed them to other hierarchical levels", says an excerpt from the document.

Another complaint filed by Gaeco in June 2026 investigated the activities of the company Romar Ltda., under the trade name ARA Câmbio e Turismo. According to the MPF, the company was used for foreign exchange operations, international transfers and asset conversion without authorization from the Central Bank.

During the period analyzed, the company handled more than R$128 million in credits and debits. The investigation also pointed out the use of Bellagio Barbearia Ltda. to receive amounts attributed to the criminal organization through Pix.

According to the complaint, approximately R$150 million was sent to certain digital wallets between October 2025 and April 2026. Part of the recipient accounts was linked to users in Colombia.

In June, Gaeco included Kelisson Rego da Silva in the complaint and stated that he operated from the country as a drug supplier for members of the Comando Vermelho in Amazonas.

g1 tries to locate Kelisson Rego da Silva's defense.

The report also contains data from Operation Brazilian Cricket, which investigated a land grabbing and “heating” scheme in Amazonas. According to the MPF, those investigated inserted false information into real estate records and Union systems to give the appearance of legality to the occupation of federal public lands.

One of the properties mentioned, Fazenda São Pedro 19, was included in the National Rural Registry System with 39,316.5010 hectares.

The activity report was presented to the Superior Council of the MPF in compliance with the resolution that determines the biannual submission of actions carried out by groups combating organized crime. On August 7, 2026, the rapporteur, Samantha Chantal Dobrowolski, voted to acknowledge the reports.