A joint operation conducted in the UAE, in collaboration with international authorities and several countries, successfully seized illegal items valued at over $32 million and apprehended 25 suspects across the region. Codenamed ‘Green Justice’, this operation struck a significant blow to organized crime groups involved in environmental crimes by intercepting 2.4 tonnes of illegal wildlife and fish catches, 37 pieces of illegal fishing equipment, 229 illegal mining equipment, and over 10,498 cubic meters of unlawfully harvested timber. The initiative was led by the International Law Enforcement for Climate Initiative (I2LEC) and exposed extensive environmental crimes in the Amazon region.
This coordinated effort, which received support from law enforcement agencies in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), aimed at targeting the regional network of environmental criminal activities in the Amazon. The operation lasted from June 24 to June 30, 2024, focusing on the tri-border corridor within the Amazon rainforest where Colombia, Peru, and Brazil intersect. Notable crimes such as illegal goods smuggling, wildlife poaching, deforestation, and illegal mining were addressed, resulting in the seizure of various materials used to commit these environmental offenses.
Lt. Col. Dana Al Marzouqi, Director General of the Office of International Affairs and coordinator of the I2LEC initiative at the UAE Ministry of Interior, expressed pride in witnessing the realization of their vision through a coordinated global response to environmental crimes. The results obtained from the ‘Green Justice’ operation will be analyzed using artificial intelligence and added to a heat map of environmental crimes, emphasizing the link between environmental offenses and other crimes like money laundering. These environmental crimes are vital offenses connected to secondary crimes and require immediate attention.
Brazilian Federal Police Commissioner Fabio Mertens commended the ‘Green Justice’ operation for its positive impact in combating environmental crimes in the Amazon. The coordinated efforts between Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and the UAE under the I2LEC initiative signify a milestone in environmental preservation and reducing illegal activities in the region. The success of this operation is seen as the beginning of a series of long-term operations targeting transnational environmental crimes in the Amazon.
General Gregorio Martin Villalon Trillo, Head of the Environmental Directorate of the National Police in Peru, acknowledged the dedication of law enforcement officers in making the ‘Green Justice’ operation a success. He emphasized the importance of protecting the Amazon and indicated their ongoing commitment to preserving natural treasures to ensure a sustainable future. Similarly, Brigadier William Castano from Colombia highlighted the power of international collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and applauded I2LEC’s vision for making a significant impact in halting criminal activities at critical border crossings in the Amazon Basin.
As investigations continue, more seizures of illegal materials and arrests are expected, marking the beginning of a global effort to combat environmental crimes in one of the world’s most vital ecological regions. Launched in 2023, the International Law Enforcement for Climate Initiative, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, aims to create awareness, build capacity, and conduct research on crimes affecting the environment and climate change. This joint operation has demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration in combating environmental crimes and preserving valuable ecosystems for future generations.
