By Laís Dornelas
On Wednesday (20), the Ministry of Defense (MD) began Operation Ágata Oeste 2023, to strengthen the state’s presence in the border area between Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. The region borders Bolivia and Paraguay, and has a high rate of drug trafficking, cargo and vehicle theft, arms and ammunition trafficking, and money laundering associated with trafficking. According to the Mato Grosso State Public Security Secretariat, around 32 tons of drugs were seized in 2022, including marijuana, cocaine, cocaine paste and crack.
To coordinate the interagency actions, the department activated the Ágata Oeste Joint Command, which includes around 1,300 military personnel from the Armed Forces, as well as representatives from public security, environmental protection and inspection agencies. According to the Commander of the Operation, Rear Admiral Iunis Távora Said, the aim of the actions is to increase security in the border area, “The expectation with Ágata Oeste is to inhibit the practice of cross-border and environmental illicit activities during the period of the operation, naturally leading to an increase in security and improving our situational awareness and that of the other agencies involved,” he said.
In addition to the military, Ágata Oeste uses 6 vessels, 8 aircraft and 10 vehicles to crack down on illegal activities. Among the agencies present are: the Federal Police (PF), the Federal Highway Police (PRF), the Military Police (PM), the Environmental Military Police (PMA), the Civil Police (PC), the Special Border Group (Gefron), the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), the Chico Mendes Institute for Conservation and Biodiversity (ICMBio), the State Agency for Animal and Plant Health Defense (Iagro) and the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (RFB).
During the operation, the Armed Forces will also carry out social actions for the local communities, such as providing medical and dental care, donating clothes to social assistance centers, giving socio-educational talks to young apprentices and students from municipal schools, and painting and renovating the Nossa Senhora de Caacupê Municipal School (in Porto Murtinho-MS).
Integrated Border Protection Program – Established by Presidential Decree No. 8,903 of November 16, 2016, the program organizes the actions of federal public administration units to strengthen prevention, control, inspection and repression in relation to cross-border crimes.