Brazilian troops razed an illegal gold mining encampment in the Sararé Indigenous territory, a region roughly the size of Singapore, after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged to eliminate illegal mining on Indigenous lands.

The settlement, known as Vila Cururu, housed dozens of makeshift structures and attracted hundreds of prospectors who used pickaxes, explosives and heavy machinery to extract gold from forest and savanna. Since the rush began five years ago, about 44.8 square kilometers of forest have been cleared, representing roughly 4% of the territory’s woodland.

Nilton Tubino, the federal official overseeing the operation, said the raid, launched in late March, ended the presence of miners in the area and recovered more than 300 kilograms of ammonium nitrate explosives and weapons. Indigenous leader Jackson Katitãurlu reported that the mining had contaminated local rivers with mercury, reduced wildlife, and caused the death of several individuals, including a body discovered near his village that later vanished. He warned that miners might return if the security operation is paused.

Tubino noted that the crackdown follows a surge in gold prices driven by global market uncertainty linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, which has attracted more miners to the region. He also said that intelligence suggested possible involvement of organized crime groups such as Rio de Janeiro’s Red Command, though he said no concrete evidence had been observed.

The government’s 10th operation under Lula’s anti‑mining campaign has been described as dangerous and labor‑intensive. While most miners have been expelled, troops continue to find evidence of remaining activity, including tunnels, tools and an underground generator that could power the settlement.

Katitãurlu said he expects miners to return once troops withdraw, and expressed concern that a victory by Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, in the upcoming presidential election could weaken the campaign.

The federal government says the clampdown will continue, with plans for another operation later this year, while Indigenous leaders remain vigilant about the possibility of renewed mining activity.