Brazilian authorities have dealt a devastating blow to illegal mining networks in the Amazon, seizing a record 249 kilograms of gold extracted illegally since the beginning of 2024. This metal, valued at approximately 184 million reais (about 34 million dollars), is only a part of the total damage inflicted on organized crime, estimated at 623 million reais (115 million dollars).
The key to this success lies in the strategic implementation of the Government House in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, an entity created in March 2024 to coordinate intelligence, command, and control operations.
Logistical and Financial Strangulation The director of the Government House, Nilton Tubino, highlighted that the strategy has focused on attacking the "central asset" of illicit operations through logistical and financial strangulation: "The 249 kilograms of gold seized since the creation of the Government House reflect a structural advance. Authorities confirm that day by day, seizures of small amounts of gold continue, continuously adding to the total of 249 kilograms already registered, which confirms the progressive dismantling of illegal exploitation networks."
This blockade was achieved through 8,459 coordinated actions, including:
• Land, river, and air inspections. • Destruction of clandestine airstrips. • Mass seizures of fuel, engines, generators, and communication systems.
Direct Impact: drastic reduction in camps Internal data demonstrates the effectiveness of the command and control system: a 98% reduction in the opening of new illegal gold mining camps has been achieved since March 2024. The loss of operational capacity is palpable. In November 2025 alone, direct combat operations resulted in the detention of 22 miners within the Yanomami territory.
We have removed from circulation the resources that sustained the illegal logistics, as part of a territorial control and financial strangulation strategy to protect indigenous lands," explained Tubino.
The results are compelling, especially in 2025, when 215 kilograms of gold were removed from circulation.
