PF discovers illegal underground mining in Amazonas and rescues more than 70 people in a situation similar to slavery | National Newspaper

PF rescues more than 70 people in situations similar to slavery in illegal mining in AM

The Federal Police discovered illegal underground mining in Amazonas and rescued more than 70 people in a situation similar to slavery.

Illegal mining operated within the Amazon Forest, in Maués, in the south of the state. The group worked in so-called well mining, carried out underground, in tunnels, and without any protective equipment. It is the first time that the PF has found a mine of this type in the Amazon.

When the agents arrived, the place was busy. Whoever was at the scene was surrendered; the last was a man who came up from the well sitting on a bucket.

The underground mine is 40 meters deep. To get there you have to climb down into a bucket that is held by ropes. The miners used wood to raise the walls and roof, which is leaky and damp. In some sections of the tunnel it is possible to see gold in the rocks.

“They, manually, with hammers, jackhammers, break rocks that are at the bottom of the earth. They also bring them to the top manually and then begin that well-known work of leaching and using chemical products such as mercury, where the workers, also without any equipment of personal protection, come into contact with this highly contaminating chemical product”, reports Federal Police delegate Adriano Sombra.

The operation took place in conjunction with ICMBio and the Public Ministry of Labor. Agents found more than 70 men in conditions similar to slavery.

According to the PF, they slept in the mine, in the open air, without a bed or bathroom. They were also forced to buy food from the mine owner, who sold them at inflated prices. Police also seized weapons.

According to investigations, illegal mining produced 6 kg of gold per day. Now, the Federal Police will try to identify the owner of the mine and find out how he co-opted the workers. The rescued miners will be taken to the states where they live, in Pará and Maranhão.