Federal actions reduce illegal mining in Yanomami territory in Brazil

Federal authorities in Brazil conducted 1,391 operations to combat illegal mining in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in Roraima between July and October 2026.

These coordinated actions resulted in the removal of ten aircraft from circulation and the closure of 15 clandestine landing strips inside and around the indigenous land. The government says these operations caused an estimated 67 million reais in financial losses to illegal mining networks during the four-month period.

Agents also dismantled 67 camps, 14 barges, and 15 river boats while seizing mercury, cassiterite, diesel oil, and gasoline. Since March 2024, total operations have caused 815 million reais in damages to miners and led to a 99% reduction in mining activity in the territory. These enforcement actions correlate with improved health outcomes for the Yanomami people.

The Yanomami Mission reports that no deaths from malaria occurred in the first half of 2026, and deaths from malnutrition fell by 73.5% compared to early 2023. The number of health professionals working in the region increased from 690 in 2023 to 2,107 in 2026.