Criminal Networks Target Amazon’s Critical Minerals

Published: Aug 20, 2026 18:51

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[SMM Flash] Criminal organisations in the Amazon are increasingly positioned to expand from illegal gold mining into coltan, cassiterite, lithium, nickel, niobium and rare earth elements as demand grows for minerals used in batteries, semiconductors, defence, AI and clean-energy technologies. Existing networks controlling territory, clandestine airstrips, river routes and money-laundering channels can be adapted to support illicit mineral extraction and trade. In June 2026, Brazil’s Federal Police identified an illegal mining site in Pará where nearly 80 kg of gold was reportedly extracted over three years.

The growing concern is that illegally sourced minerals can be mixed with legally mined material and laundered through forged documentation, intermediary companies and cross-border trade, making their origins difficult to detect. In April 2025, Colombian authorities seized nearly 49 tonnes of coltan and tin reportedly extracted from areas controlled by armed groups and destined for illegal export to China. Strengthening mineral traceability, financial intelligence, border controls and international cooperation will therefore be critical to protecting emerging critical-mineral supply chains from criminal infiltration.

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