UAE leads major anti-environmental crime operation in Amazon Basin, 94 arrested, $64m in assets seized

Abu Dhabi: The UAE led Operation ‘Green Shield’, one of the most extensive multinational efforts to combat environmental crimes, resulting in the arrest of 94 individuals and the seizure of assets worth over $64 million.

In a post on his X account, Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, stated: “In response to requests from several countries in the region, the UAE led Operation 'Green Shield', one of the most extensive multinational efforts to address environmental crimes in the Amazon Basin, one of the world’s most ecologically vulnerable regions.”

The 14-day operation was carried out in close cooperation with Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador, and in strategic partnership with the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).

The operation led to 350 high-impact field missions, the arrest of 94 suspects for various environmental violations, and the seizure of equipment, materials, and environmental assets valued at over $64 million.

This initiative highlights the UAE’s growing role in global environmental protection and its commitment to international cooperation in tackling ecological crimes that threaten biodiversity, natural resources, and sustainable development.