From June 1st to 9th, the Northern Joint Command undertook actions that culminated in the largest seizure of ore ever made in Brazil, during North Ágata¹ Operation. 202 thousand tons of manganese, copper and cassiterite were seized in Vila do Conde, in Barcarena (PA). In addition, 309 kg of cocaine, 2,850 kg of fish, 218 m³ of wood, 7,600 boxes of cigarettes, 77 boats, 20 vehicles, 13 weapons, 188 ammunition, 5 chainsaws, and 1,200 liters of fuel were seized.
A boat carrying 26 kg of marijuana and 600 ecstasy pills was also intercepted, and 12 people of Cuban origin were found to have left Suriname for Brazil. The activities ended with a total balance estimated at R$ 201.4 million in seized illicit materials.
A total of 3,119 people were employed, including civilians and military personnel from the Armed Forces, public security and environmental agencies, 50 naval, 47 land and 6 airborne resources. The actions were carried out in an area equivalent to 1.7 million km² of land area, 1 million km² of sea area, 5,500 km of navigable rivers, 1,800 km of coastline, and 1,300 km of land border.
The agencies involved planned the operation months ago and, with knowledge in the fight against cross-border and environmental crimes, acted in simultaneous actions at strategic points, using data from monitoring sea, river, land and air areas. State-of-the-art equipment was also used, provided by the Cyber Defense Command and aircraft from the Aerospace Operations Command for maritime patrols.
Ágata Operation is also active in the area of social action. Between June 4 and 7, the population of the municipality of Oiapoque (AP) received a Civic-Social Action that resulted in 70 medical consultations, with distribution of medicines; 63 dental consultations; and the distribution of 100 dental kits. Riverside dwellers in the communities of Taparuba (AP) and Prainha (AP) were also assisted, with 28 medical appointments; 20 dental appointments; and 40 toothbrushes distributed.
North Ágata Operation
North Ágata Operation promotes repressive and preventive actions against cross-border and environmental crimes on the maritime border up to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone, including ports, and on the land border of the states of Pará, Amapá, and Maranhão. The crimes being fought are those of drug trafficking and organized crime; smuggling and embezzlement; illegal fishing; illegal mining and exploitation of mineral resources; exploitation and transport of illegal wood. The Operation, which is part of the Integrated Border Protection Program, is organized by the Ministry of Defense and carried out in coordination with federal and state agencies, as well as public security and environmental agencies.
The joint operations are necessary to increase the presence of the State in places of low population density and incipient infrastructure, as well as to act in coordinated actions, in order to add efforts in a strategic way, contributing to the security of the region.
Departments and Agencies
The Brazilian Army participates in the Ágata Operation through the Northern Joint Command, formed by the 4th Naval District, the Northern Military Command and the Aerospace Operations Command.
The following agencies are also participating in Ágata Norte 2022: Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN), Management and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System (CENSIPAM), Federal Police (PF), Federal Revenue Service, Federal Highway Police (PRF), National Force, National Mining Agency (ANM), Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), Para State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability and the Military and Civil Police of the states of Pará, Amapá and Maranhão.
¹Since 2011, the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces (EMCFA) has been coordinating a large-scale action aimed at strengthening the security of the nearly 17,000 kilometers of land borders in Brazil. This is Ágata Operation, which is part of the Federal Government’s Strategic Border Plan (PEF), created to prevent and repress the actions of criminals on Brazil’s borders with ten South American countries.
Ágata – In English Agate, is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, a sub-variety of chalcedony. It is characterized by a diversity of colors, usually arranged in parallel, nonconcentric bands, showing crystallization or deposition in vesicles and with a zoned appearance.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress Team ***