Integrated actions of the 64th phase of Operation Curupira seize materials at two fixed bases
Investigation and interdiction procedures were adopted by the competent authorities
Two inspection actions carried out on Tuesday (26) by the security and inspection teams that are part of the 64th phase of Operation Curupira, coordinated by the Secretariats of Public Security and Social Defense (Segup) and Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas), seized materials such as tractors and logs and recorded procedures. Personnel from the fixed bases of Novo Progresso and Uruará were involved.
In the Novo Progresso front, the target was a deforestation area in Trairão. At the site, a deforested area, a tractor, materials, and several cut logs were found. The area will be kept under monitoring considering the high rate of wood removal. The owners will be summoned, and four procedures were adopted, including two seizure terms and two destruction terms.
In the Uruará front, the target was a legal wood exploitation area. Still on the access road to the target, several trees were felled in an attempt to obstruct inspection actions, which were removed by the Military Fire Brigade team. At this point, a drone flight was conducted, which confirmed other obstructions.
Thus, the teams trekked on foot for about 6 km to the exploitation site. In the area, several yards for log storage were observed, almost entirely empty or with scrap. The area is located within a settlement of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra), aimed at family farming. The agency will be notified to open an investigation into illegal extraction and deforestation in that area.
The head of the Secretariat of Public Security and Social Defense, Ualame Machado, emphasizes that since the beginning of the actions in 2023, Operation Curupira has shown assertiveness in combating environmental crimes and preserving the fauna and flora of Pará.
“Operation Curupira demonstrates once again the effectiveness of the integration between the Secretariats of Public Security and Environment in combating environmental crimes. The actions carried out on Tuesday, with the seizure of tractors and logs, and the recording of the appropriate procedures, prove the success of our joint action strategy. The commitment of the personnel from the fixed bases is essential to ensure the protection of our environment and the safety of the population,” he said.
The commander of the Military Police, Colonel Dilson Júnior, highlights that: “The Military Police of Pará maintains its commitment to the protection of the Amazon. Operation Curupira demonstrates the security system's effort to inspect, curb illegal practices, and seize equipment used in deforestation and illegal wood exploitation. We will continue to act firmly and consistently to preserve the environment and ensure that the law is upheld,” he stated.
The director of Environmental Inspection at Semas, Tobias Brancher, emphasized the importance of integrated action: “The operations reinforce Semas's role in protecting natural resources and combating illegal practices that degrade the Amazon. The seizure of equipment and the recording of administrative procedures are fundamental measures to dismantle the chain of illegal deforestation. Our commitment is to ensure that the forest is preserved and that activities are conducted within legality and sustainability,” he highlighted.
Operation Curupira - Launched in February 2023, Operation Curupira continues to operate from three fixed bases in the municipalities of São Félix do Xingu, Novo Progresso, and Uruará. So far, more than 2,260 inspections have been carried out, over 90 arrests in flagrant; 27 bail amounts set, 52 police inquiries initiated; more than 180 summons issued; 220 infraction notices; 58 circumstantial occurrence terms (TCOs), 679 ammunition seized, and over 200 firearms seized.
The actions of Curupira aim to combat illegal deforestation and the exploitation of the natural resources of the Amazon rainforest, being integrated by teams from the Secretariat of Public Security and Social Defense (Segup), the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability (Semas); Military, Civil, and Scientific Police, and the Military Fire Brigade.
