In September 2024, Brazilian police carried out a wide operation against illegal mining in the Amazon, raiding a criminal organisation that allegedly financed the production and sale of 3.1 tonnes of gold, which was then laundered with the assistance of fraudulent papers. Much of the gold was refined in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, a city in the north of Sao Paulo state that has a thriving jewellery industry and where illegal gold is often melted down into ingots with legal gold, making it harder to trace the illegal metal. A federal judge ordered the confiscation and freezing of 2.9 billion reais (US$514 million) in cash and assets, including vehicles, motorcycles, jewellery and gold nuggets. Furthermore, local police stated that as a result of the operation, four companies were suspended, six mining licenses and four gun possession permits were revoked, and four local government officials were ordered removed from office, suggesting potential Corruption & Bribery.