UAE Coordinates Global Crackdown on Environmental Crime in the Amazon
- UAE-led ‘Operation Green Shield’ disrupts Amazon criminal networks.
- 94 arrests made and $64 million in illegal assets seized.
- Over 1,500 officers participated from multiple South American countries.
Operation Green Shield Disrupts Criminal Networks
A significant milestone in the fight against environmental crime was recently achieved with ‘Operation Green Shield’, organized by the UAE Ministry of Interior. This initiative has disrupted criminal networks throughout the Amazon Basin, effectively showcasing the power of global cooperation. Over the course of two weeks, law enforcement from multiple countries worked together to strike back at illegal activities threatening the world’s largest rainforest.
Global Cooperation in Action
In this collaborative effort, which falls under the UAE’s International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), more than 1,500 officers from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru participated. The operation’s results were impressive, yielding 94 arrests and seizing illegal assets valued at over $64 million. The campaign involved over 350 field operations that focused on various illegal activities including mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, and fuel smuggling.
Impressive Achievements and Future Steps
Among the notable achievements of Operation Green Shield were the confiscation of over 310 tonnes of raw minerals and 3,800 cubic meters of illegal timber, along with the interception of 39,000 gallons of smuggled fuel. In a particularly dramatic turn of events in Peru, police dismantled a significant wildlife trafficking organization, rescuing around 1,400 live animals. This operation marks a substantial victory for international law enforcement committed to environmental preservation, as emphasized by Lt. Colonel Dana Humaid of the UAE Ministry of Interior.
Operation Green Shield highlights the importance of international collaboration to tackle environmental crime. With considerable arrests and impressive recoveries, this initiative exemplifies a significant step towards protecting the Amazon. The ongoing effort reinforces the commitment of the UAE and its partners in safeguarding ecological resources globally.
