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Illegal miners extract billions in Amazon gold despite Brazil crackdown, Greenpeace finds
By Adriano Machado, Lais Morais and Ricardo Brito
May 28, 2026 11:04 PM EDT
Summary
ITAITUBA, Brazil, May 29 (Reuters) - Billions of dollars worth of gold is still being extracted illegally from Brazil's Amazon rainforest, a study by nonprofit watchdog Greenpeace found, despite efforts by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to crack down on wildcat mining.
Lula pledged upon taking office in 2023 to eliminate illegal gold mining from Indigenous lands and protected areas after years of expansion encouraged by far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. Last year, Brazil's Federal Police seized a record 447 kg (985 pounds) of illegally mined gold.
But as gold prices hit record highs amid intense geopolitical instability, the Greenpeace study found that miners have adapted by using permits from places with no mining activity to falsify the origin of illegally mined gold.
Greenpeace analyzed 187 forest areas with gold mining permits issued by Brazilian mining agency ANM near Indigenous lands and protected areas in the Amazon and found that 98 of them showed no signs of mining.
…
May 28, 2026 11:04 PM EDT
Summary
- Greenpeace finds 'ghost permits' laundering illegal Amazon gold
- Brazil enforcement hits snags as miners adapt to crackdown
- Kayapo chief and Greenpeace warn of harms, criticize government
ITAITUBA, Brazil, May 29 (Reuters) - Billions of dollars worth of gold is still being extracted illegally from Brazil's Amazon rainforest, a study by nonprofit watchdog Greenpeace found, despite efforts by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to crack down on wildcat mining.
Lula pledged upon taking office in 2023 to eliminate illegal gold mining from Indigenous lands and protected areas after years of expansion encouraged by far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. Last year, Brazil's Federal Police seized a record 447 kg (985 pounds) of illegally mined gold.
But as gold prices hit record highs amid intense geopolitical instability, the Greenpeace study found that miners have adapted by using permits from places with no mining activity to falsify the origin of illegally mined gold.
Greenpeace analyzed 187 forest areas with gold mining permits issued by Brazilian mining agency ANM near Indigenous lands and protected areas in the Amazon and found that 98 of them showed no signs of mining.
…
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/73985/illegal-gold-mining-has-destroyed-over-4000-hectares-of-amazon-rainforest-in-just-four-indigenous-territories-in-the-past-two-years-warns-greenpeace/
Illegal gold mining has destroyed over 4,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in just four Indigenous territories in the past two years, warns Greenpeace
Greenpeace International
8 Apr 2025 • 3 min read
Manaus, Brazil – Illegal gold mining remains rampant in the Amazon rainforest despite government efforts to curb it, reveals new analyses of satellite data from 2023 to 2024. According to the report by Greenpeace Brazil, national action to combat this destructive activity is not delivering a decrease, but rather a shift in the Indigenous territories affected.
While mining activities reduced in Yanomami, Munduruku and Kayapó land (down 7%, 57% and 31%), Sararé land saw a dramatic surge, with illegal mining up by 93%. In the past two years, the report finds, 4,219 hectares of rainforest have been destroyed by gold miners in these four Indigenous territories – an area equivalent to almost half the total area of Manhattan, or more than 5,900 soccer pitches.
Researchers also uncovered discrepancies in gold trade data. According to the investigation, Swiss imports exceeded Brazil’s reported exports by 67% in 2022 and 62% in 2023 – suggesting significant irregularities. Concerted action is needed to stem the trade in illegally mined gold, says Greenpeace.
Jorge Eduardo Dantas, Indigenous Peoples’ Campaign Lead from Greenpeace Brazil said: “As long as this gold is being bought by foreign countries, this remains a real threat to the Indigenous Peoples, the Amazon forest and the global climate. It’s driving deforestation, killing rivers and poisoning people and biodiversity. We need a sustained and integrated approach to fight illegal gold mining – from Brazil’s side and from the countries importing it.”
…
The full report is available from Greenpeace Brazil: Toxic Gold (PDF)Greenpeace International
8 Apr 2025 • 3 min read
Manaus, Brazil – Illegal gold mining remains rampant in the Amazon rainforest despite government efforts to curb it, reveals new analyses of satellite data from 2023 to 2024. According to the report by Greenpeace Brazil, national action to combat this destructive activity is not delivering a decrease, but rather a shift in the Indigenous territories affected.
While mining activities reduced in Yanomami, Munduruku and Kayapó land (down 7%, 57% and 31%), Sararé land saw a dramatic surge, with illegal mining up by 93%. In the past two years, the report finds, 4,219 hectares of rainforest have been destroyed by gold miners in these four Indigenous territories – an area equivalent to almost half the total area of Manhattan, or more than 5,900 soccer pitches.
Researchers also uncovered discrepancies in gold trade data. According to the investigation, Swiss imports exceeded Brazil’s reported exports by 67% in 2022 and 62% in 2023 – suggesting significant irregularities. Concerted action is needed to stem the trade in illegally mined gold, says Greenpeace.
Jorge Eduardo Dantas, Indigenous Peoples’ Campaign Lead from Greenpeace Brazil said: “As long as this gold is being bought by foreign countries, this remains a real threat to the Indigenous Peoples, the Amazon forest and the global climate. It’s driving deforestation, killing rivers and poisoning people and biodiversity. We need a sustained and integrated approach to fight illegal gold mining – from Brazil’s side and from the countries importing it.”
…