Operation Ob 10, the Federal Police (PF) Operation 2, destroyed with explosives four underground mines of illegal mining. In the action, agents also rescued workers submitted to conditions analogous to slavery and danger.
The joint operation of the PF took place between January 31 and February 3, in Maués (AM), and was attended by the Federal Highway Police, Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) , National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) and Labor Prosecutor (MPT).
According to the Federal Police, the action is an deployment of Operation Déjà VU, carried out in the region with record of similar practices.
The investigation in the interior of the Amazon began from allegations of exploitation of degrading labor and cyanide use in illegal gold extraction. This chemical compound is toxic and, in case of exposure, can cause the death of the contaminated person. At the scene, Mercury was found. Metal is used in mining to separate gold from the soil.
Work analogous to slavery
The teams of the Labor Prosecutor’s Office (MPT) found that more than 50 workers, including prospectors, cooks and managers, faced exhaustive working hours, precarious working places, without access to basic rights and exposed to risks arising from use of toxic chemicals and possible collapse of underground structures.
Labor auditors identified that most employees of this illegal mining fled when they realize the approach of aircraft to public agents. Only four of them remained and were rescued by the professionals.
As a result, after the welcome of the workers, the government forwarded them to their places of origin.
The Labor Prosecutor’s Office will propose a public civil action to guarantee labor rights and hold the financiers of illegal mining.
Environmental damage
Extraction of ore through underground mines is considered an unusual and high risk method.
In addition, the network of underground tunnels caused environmental damage evaluated at more than R $ 1 billion, considering the degradation of environmental preservation areas, deforestation and contamination of groundwater, which correspond to the underground layer of water near soil surface.
In a statement, the PF says this target operation of the operation is one of the oldest in Brazil. And this is the first time the Federal Police have taken the removal of people who operated the illegal underground mining.
Denunciations
To record a complaint of work analogous to slavery, the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) advises accessing the ipê slave labor system. The digital platform is exclusive to receive complaints of this type of labor exploration and the illegal intermediation of workers’ agents, known as cats.
From the record of cases, the MTE organizes the workforce for investigation and to repression of occurrence.
Another way to denounce human rights violations is Dial 100, the telephone center coordinated by the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC). The service is free and works seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Just call the number 100.
