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UAE arrests 94 suspects for environmental crimes in $64-million crackdown in Amazon basin
The arrests were part of Operation “Green Shield”, a 14-day multinational effort spearheaded by the UAE in coordination with Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador
The UAE led a major international crackdown on environmental crimes in the Amazon Basin, resulting in the arrest of 94 individuals and the seizure of assets worth over $64 million.
In a post on social media platform X, Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, noted that the arrests were part of Operation “Green Shield”, a 14-day multinational effort spearheaded by the UAE in coordination with Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.
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The operation was conducted under the UAE’s global initiative, Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), launched in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) during the COP28 climate conference held in Dubai in 2023.
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Backed by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), authorities executed 350 targeted field operations, dismantling criminal networks accused of destroying protected ecosystems.
Watch the video below, as shared by Ministry of Interior:
Protecting the environment
This international initiative is part of the UAE’s broader push to position itself as a leader in global climate action, with the country rolling out a range of environmental measures — from seasonal fishing bans to protect marine biodiversity, to strict penalties for violations in protected natural reserves.
In May of this year, the UAE enacted its new climate law, becoming the first country in the MENA region to establish a legal framework for climate resilience and greenhouse gas emissions accountability. The law aims to bolster national efforts in environmental protection ahead of COP30.
Additionally, the UAE enforces species-specific fishing seasons, aligned with breeding cycles, categorising months as either "open season" or "ban season" to safeguard marine populations.
UAE authorities also imposed strict penalties for environmental violations. In October 2024, for example, authorities fined individuals Dh165,000 for illegally entering and damaging a protected reserve in Al Wathba.
In a recent marine conservation effort, the Fujairah Environment Authority, in collaboration with the Port of Fujairah, Fujairah Research Centre, and Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre, successfully guided a Bryde’s whale — a baleen species — back to its natural migration path after it was spotted near the Port of Fujairah.
Elizabeth Gonzales
Elizabeth Gonzales is a Digital Journalist who loves writing about the expat life — and ways to make the most of it. When she's not looking for new hacks to share with readers, you may find her giving them a real laugh at one of her stand-up comic events.
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