Harley Sandoval, a mining entrepreneur, was arrested in July 2023 for illegally exporting 294 kilos of gold from Brazil's Amazon. Despite claiming legal sourcing, authorities used advanced technology to prove the gold originated from illegal mines in Pará, including Indigenous lands. This case highlights innovative techniques to combat Brazil's rampant illicit gold mining, which causes significant environmental damage and fuels criminal activity.
Harley Sandoval, a mining entrepreneur, was arrested in July 2023 for illegally exporting 294 kilos of gold from Brazil's Amazon. Despite claiming legal sourcing, authorities used advanced technology to prove the gold originated from illegal mines in Pará, including Indigenous lands. This case highlights innovative techniques to combat Brazil's rampant illicit gold mining, which causes significant environmental damage and fuels criminal activity.