0
An inspection barrier on BR-230, the Transamazônica, resulted in a severe blow against the illegal mineral trade in the northern region. On Monday night (23), a joint operation between P and the Military Police of Amazonas (PM/AM) intercepted the transport of 1,608 kg of gold without any legal basis. The seizure occurred in the municipality of Humaitá (AM).
The incident occurred during the approach of two pickup trucks. The nervous behavior and contradictory versions presented by the driver and passenger about the reason for the trip raised the suspicion of the agents, who decided to carry out a thorough inspection of the vehicles.
The incident occurred on Monday night (23) during a routine inspection by the PRF and the Military Police of Amazonas/ Photo: PRF
Concealment and Confession
The surprise came during the inspection under the driver’s seat of one of the SUVs. There, the police located a heavy object, carefully packaged. Upon opening the casing, the teams discovered that it was a solid gold bar. Inside the vehicle, a metallic mold was also found, commonly used to shape the ore after casting.
READ ALSO:
When asked about the origin of the metal, those involved admitted that they did not have an invoice or any authorization from the competent bodies for transport. They also revealed that the valuable shipment had two final destinations: part would be sold in Porto Velho (RO) and the rest delivered to a contact in Bolivia.
Legal Procedures
Without proof of origin and given the confession of irregular transport for external sale, the suspects and the gold were sent to the Humaitá Civil Police Station. The cargo will now undergo official examination.
The action reinforces surveillance on the highways that connect Amazonas, Rondônia and the border, routes frequently used to transport minerals illegally extracted from mines in the Amazon.
