Indigenous group detains 12 alleged gold miners in Amazon and hands them over to Brazilian police
SAO PAULO (AP) — An Indigenous group in Brazil said Wednesday its members detained 12 people for allegedly mining illegally in the Amazon and handed them over to police.
The non-profit Urihi Associação Yanomami said in a statement that the incident took place Tuesday in the northern state of Roraima, which borders Venezuela. The organization said its move was aimed at avoiding the risk of water contamination by mercury in mining.
Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples Ministry confirmed that a dozen alleged miners, including 10 men and two women, were in police custody.
The Yanomami group filmed some of its members carrying bows and shotguns as they took the alleged miners to police. The detainees did not make comments in the video. The Associated Press could not find a spokesperson for them.
The Yanomami community is the Amazon’s largest Indigenous tribe living in relative isolation, and many of its members are contaminated with mercury coming from widespread illegal gold mining, according to Brazil’s top public health institute.
Related articles
Vatican makes fresh overture to China, reaffirms that Catholic Church is no threat to sovereignty
ROME (AP) — The Vatican made another big overture to China on Tuesday, reaffirming the Catholic Chur2024-05-22NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of2024-05-22Mixed reaction to Three Waters repeal by end of next week
Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe has celebrated the scrapping of Three Waters. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin2024-05-22This stinks. A noxious weed forces Arizona national monument's picnic area to close until May
COOLIDGE, Ariz. (AP) — It literally stinks that visitors to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in s2024-05-22Massey, Perez hit homers to lead Royals in 8
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Massey and Salvador Perez homered as the Kansas City Royals beat the2024-05-22Norwegians facing a shortage as Easter nears are hoarding eggs from neighboring Sweden
HELSINKI (AP) — A shortage of eggs in shops during Holy Week has led Norwegians to flock to supermar2024-05-22
atest comment