Key facts
- Brazilian security forces have conducted an operation to eradicate illegal gold mining in the Sararé Indigenous territory.
- The operation resulted in the destruction of the illegal settlement Vila Cururu and the flight of miners.
- The Sararé territory has experienced significant environmental devastation, with approximately 17.3 square miles of forest destroyed.
- Surging global gold prices and instability are cited as drivers for the increased illegal mining.
- Indigenous leaders report escalating violence, including threats and discovered corpses.
Brazilian security forces have conducted a significant operation to dismantle illegal gold mining settlements in the Sararé Indigenous territory, a move that has led to extensive environmental devastation and increased violence. The settlement of Vila Cururu, once a hub of depravity and illicit activity, was razed by troops in late March as part of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's commitment to eradicate illegal mining in protected areas.
Jackson Katitãurlu, an Indigenous leader from the Nambiquara people, described the situation as 'total devastation,' with forests destroyed and rivers poisoned by mercury used in mining. Approximately 17.3 square miles of forest have been lost in Sararé since the gold rush began about five years ago. This surge in mining activity is partly attributed to a crackdown in other Indigenous territories, such as the Yanomami, driving miners south, and record-high gold prices influenced by global instability and President Donald Trump's foreign policy.
The scale of the destruction, visible from a helicopter, revealed vast brown gashes and pools of mercury-contaminated water. Heavy machinery, including Hyundai excavators, has been used to gouge the landscape. The Nambiquara people have a long history of facing external aggression, dating back to the 1730s with the discovery of gold, followed by disease and violence from explorers and infrastructure projects.
Contemporary illegal mining in Sararé is characterized by the use of heavy-duty excavators and the suspected involvement of organized crime groups, such as Rio de Janeiro's Red Command. While Tubino downplayed the direct involvement of the Red Command, Indigenous leaders report miners armed with automatic rifles and shotguns, and have received threats. Environmental special forces encountered armed resistance in 2024, resulting in fatalities. Despite the ongoing challenges, Nambiquara leaders believe the recent crackdown has, for now, largely succeeded in halting the mining operations.