Abu Dhabi: A UAE-coordinated law enforcement operation, dubbed ‘Green Justice’, has struck a significant blow against environmental crime networks operating in the Amazon Basin. Led by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC) and involving agencies from Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, the operation resulted in the seizure of illicit goods valued at over $32 million and the arrest of 25 suspects.
Conducted from June 24 to 30, 2024, the operation seized 2.4 tonnes of illegal wildlife and marine catches, 37 illegal fishing devices, 229 pieces of mining equipment, and over 10,498 cubic meters of illicitly cut wood. The coordination of I2LEC, a UAE Ministry of Interior initiative, enabled thorough investigations and intelligence gathering on transnational environmental crime networks.
The operation targeted the notorious three-way border region in the Amazon Basin, known for illegal activities such as wildlife poaching, deforestation, and illegal mining. The involvement of the UNODC and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) was crucial in supporting the operation.
Lt. Colonel Dana Almarzooqi, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau at the UAE Ministry of Interior and I2LEC Coordinator, emphasized the UAE’s commitment to environmental protection under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Almarzooqi highlighted the role of international training and operations in combating environmental crimes and the use of artificial intelligence to analyze the operation’s results.
Brazil’s Federal Police Commissioner, Fabio Mertens, praised the operation’s impact and the milestone it represents in environmental preservation and deterrence of illegal activities. General Gregorio Martin Villalon Trillo, Head of the Environmental Directorate at the National Police of Peru, expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers involved and reiterated the commitment to safeguarding the Amazon. Brigadier William Castano from Colombia emphasized the importance of international collaboration in addressing urgent environmental challenges.
Ongoing investigations are expected to lead to further seizures and arrests, marking the start of a sustained global effort to combat environmental crimes. I2LEC, launched in 2023 and co-led by the UAE Ministry of Interior and UNODC, continues to play a pivotal role in raising awareness, building capacity, and conducting research on crimes affecting the environment and climate change.
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