Brasilia, Sept. 17, 2025 (Lusa) - The Brazilian police on Wednesday launched an operation against a criminal organisation that paid bribes to civil servants to obtain environmental licences for mining in the state of Minas Gerais, making profits of the equivalent of €240 million.

In addition to this profit already obtained, the Federal Police said it had identified "ongoing projects linked to the criminal organisation with an economic potential of more than 18 billion reais [€2.37 billion]".

The authorities are executing 79 search and seizure warrants, 22 preventive arrest warrants, and are carrying out the "freezing/seizure of assets with a value of 1.5 billion reais [€240 million] and suspension of the activities of the individuals involved," the Federal Police said in a statement.

According to the investigation, the group bribed public officials from various state and federal environmental and mining inspection agencies in order to obtain fraudulent environmental permits and licences.

"These authorisations were used to illegally extract and exploit iron ore on a large scale, including in listed sites and areas close to conservation areas, with serious environmental consequences and a high risk of social and human disasters," the authorities reported.

The Federal Police also detailed that the "criminal organisation" acted "to neutralise the State's actions," hindering investigations by monitoring authorities.

"In addition, it used various devices to launder the money obtained from illegal practices," added the Federal Police.

MIM/AYLS // AYLS

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