Gold prices surged in Brazil, sparking an unprecedented wave of illegal mining in the Amazon rainforest. Gangs have been extracting the precious metal at any cost—often stripping away entire ecosystems and people to meet rising demand. One gang member, Benildo Rodrigues, flew from the dense jungle to collect 100 pounds of gold (worth over $4 million), leaving behind a trail of destruction in his Cessna-propelled plane. This surge in illegal activity highlights the dark side of modern capitalism as gang members exploit desperation and greed for profit, regardless of the environmental or human costs they impose on the Amazon biome.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-01-24/narcos-fuel-illegal-gold-mining-in-brazil-destroy-amazon-rainforest