In a significant achievement for international environmental law enforcement, the UAE’s Ministry of Interior has successfully executed “Operation Green Shield” through the “International Initiative for Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC),” dismantling major criminal networks operating in the Amazon Basin. This operation resulted in the arrest of 94 individuals and the seizure of illegal assets valued at over $64 million.
Over a two-week period, the campaign, named “Green Shield,” conducted more than 350 field operations involving over 1,500 officers across Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The teams worked in close coordination from a central command center in Bogotá, with strategic oversight provided by the UAE’s Ministry of Interior.
This operation built upon the success of the “Green Justice” campaign from 2024, fostering deeper cooperation and real-time intelligence sharing among participating countries, enabling them to achieve stronger outcomes this year.
Key outcomes of the operation included the confiscation of over 310 tons of illegally extracted raw minerals, 61 tons of calcium oxide, 3,800 cubic meters of illegally cut timber, and more than 39,000 gallons of smuggled fuel.
The operation also delivered a significant blow to wildlife trafficking, resulting in the rescue of over 2,100 live animals and the confiscation of 6,350 dead specimens (including birds, reptiles, and mammals). Authorities seized 530 pieces of heavy equipment used in criminal activities, such as bulldozers, trucks, and crushers.
Among the notable achievements, Peruvian police dismantled the “Los Depredadores del Oriente” gang involved in wildlife trafficking and rescued 1,400 live animals. Colombian authorities took down three organized crime groups and a cell linked to the “Clan del Golfo,” one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations.
Lieutenant Colonel Dana Hamid Al Marzouqi, the General Director of the International Affairs Office in the UAE’s Ministry of Interior and I2LEC Coordinator, praised the results, affirming the UAE’s commitment to leading global climate law enforcement efforts. She described “Operation Green Shield” as a landmark achievement for climate-focused global law enforcement.
She added that the scope and speed of the results reflect not only the strength of regional cooperation but also the increasing resolve of governments to address environmental crimes as a critical security issue. From saving thousands of animals to disrupting illicit economies estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, the results of “Operation Green Shield” signal what coordinated enforcement can achieve, underscoring I2LEC’s commitment to enabling countries to take necessary actions, share intelligence, and realize tangible benefits for our environment and future generations.
The operation demonstrated the crucial role of modern technology, as the use of the “ArcGIS Mission” tool by Esri facilitated real-time geographic location tracking of units and direct communication between teams in remote areas, supporting field operations and contributing to future investigations and prosecutions.
The I2LEC center played a pivotal role in the success of the operation by coordinating the entire campaign, liaising among national forces, and gathering and analyzing field data. It also provided essential technologies and equipment to enable real-time information sharing and simultaneous operations.
Following this successful operation, the I2LEC and its partners are analyzing the gathered information to develop long-term strategies for dismantling criminal networks and enhancing environmental governance in the region. Further seizures of illegal materials and additional arrests are anticipated as ongoing investigations and coordination among various participants in the operation continue.
High-level officials from partnering nations applauded the operation’s success. Colonel Jorge Andrés Bernal Granada, Director of the Environmental Protection Unit of the Colombian National Police, emphasized his country’s leadership in enforcing environmental laws, stating that Colombia has made significant progress in combatting illegal mining, fuel theft, and wildlife trafficking. He expressed pride in Colombia’s role in this international effort to safeguard the Amazon’s ecosystems.
He noted that this endeavor is part of a broader strategy that not only enhances environmental security but also fosters international cooperation in addressing shared threats, urging allied nations, including the UAE, to continue strengthening collaboration to protect the Amazon as a natural heritage for humanity.
Fausto Patricio Iniguez Sotomayor, Deputy Commander of the Ecuadorian National Police, mentioned that Ecuador’s inaugural participation in the I2LEC-led initiative represents a crucial step in combating environmental crime. He noted that, with support from the UAE through I2LEC, they were able to dismantle transnational groups profiting from environmental destruction.
General Manuel Elias Lozada Morales, Head of the Environmental Department of the National Police in Peru, expressed pride in the participation of the national police for the second consecutive year in “Operation Green Shield,” thanking the UAE for its steadfast commitment to defending the Amazon rainforest.
He affirmed that international cooperation demonstrates the effectiveness of collective action in protecting one of the Earth’s most vital ecosystems and ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Renato Madsen Aruda, General Coordinator of the Amazon Protection and Environmental and Cultural Heritage Division of the Brazilian Federal Police, indicated that this collaboration is part of Brazil’s strong commitment to safeguarding natural resources, expressing pride in his country’s role in disrupting criminal activities, particularly illegal gold mining in remote areas of the Amazon.
“Operation Green Shield” represents the latest in a series of international law enforcement campaigns led by the I2LEC initiative, which was launched by the UAE’s Ministry of Interior in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in 2023.
The I2LEC aims to enhance law enforcement capacities globally, promote international cooperation, and support climate objectives by targeting criminal economies that contribute to environmental destruction. Since its inception, I2LEC has trained over 2,000 officers, facilitated global operations, and served as a catalyst for unifying law enforcement agencies around a shared commitment to protecting the planet.