UAE-Led 'Green Justice' Operation Seizes $32 Million Worth Of Illicit Goods, Arrests 25

A regional law enforcement operation named ‘Green Justice’, coordinated by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), has uncovered extensive environmental crimes in the Amazon Basin. The operation dealt a significant blow to organised crime groups, seizing 2.4 tonnes of items related to illegal wildlife and marine catches, 37 illegal fishing equipment, 229 illegal mining equipment, and more than 10,498 cubic metres of illicitly cut wood. Twenty-five suspects were arrested and charged with various environmental crimes. The illicit goods seized are estimated to be worth more than US$32 million.

Operation Green Justice saw the support and participation of law enforcement agencies from Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, along with UNODC and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). The primary objective was to target the regional network of environmental criminal activities in the Amazon Basin. Located in the heart of the Amazon forest at the intersection of Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, the three-way border passage has been a hotspot for criminal activity, including smuggling of illicit goods, wildlife poaching, deforestation, and illegal mining.

The joint operation was carried out between 24th to 30th June 2024 and coordinated by I2LEC, one of the initiatives of the UAE Ministry of Interior. It generated intelligence enabling thorough investigations into transnational environmental crime networks. Operation Green Justice also resulted in the seizure of various smuggling materials used in carrying out these environmental crimes.

Lt. Colonel Dana Almarzooqi, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau at UAE Ministry of Interior and Coordinator of I2LEC, commented on the initiative's success: "In line with the wise leadership’s keenness to preserve the environment and environmental wealth under President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's leadership and his great support for the initiative... Since its founding in 2023, I2LEC has grown into a truly international collaborative initiative capable of bringing real change in environmental protection worldwide."

Fabio Mertens, Brazil's Commissioner of Federal Police and Deputy Director of International Cooperation said: "The positive impact of Operation Green Justice in combating environmental crimes in the Amazon is invaluable... We are confident that the success marks the beginning of long-term operational activities targeting transnational environmental crimes in the Amazon Basin."

Commitment to Long-Term Environmental Protection

General Gregorio Martin Villalon Trillo, Head of Environmental Directorate at National Police of Peru added: "I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all dedicated law enforcement operatives whose tireless efforts made Operation Green Justice possible... Initiatives like this reaffirm our dedication to preserving our planet's invaluable natural treasures."

Brigadier William Castano from Colombia’s Gendarmerie police environmental protection department stated: "Operation Green Justice is a testament to international collaboration addressing urgent environmental challenges... Thanks to I2LEC’s vision and coordination, we have taken a significant step forward in raising environmental protection."

Future Operations and Analysis

The results obtained from Operation Green Justice have been added to a heat map of environmental crimes. These results will be analysed using artificial intelligence. More seizures and arrests are expected as part of ongoing investigations and coordination between various participants. This marks the beginning of a long-term global endeavour to combat environmental crimes in some vital ecological areas.

The International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), launched in 2023 and co-led by UAE Ministry of Interior with UNODC partnership, is a global platform aimed at awareness-raising, capacity-building, and research concerning crimes affecting environment and climate change.

With inputs from WAM