Editor’s Note
This article details the severe humanitarian and environmental crisis unfolding in Yanomami territory since 2019, driven by illegal mining and alleged state negligence. The situation underscores the urgent need for protection of indigenous rights and ecosystems.
Since 2019, the invasion of Yanomami indigenous territory by over 20,000 miners and the negligence of the Bolsonaro administration have led to a severe humanitarian, environmental, and health crisis.
In Brazil, the companies authorized to purchase gold belong to a financial sector group known as DTVMs (Distribuidora de Títulos e Valores Mobiliários). An investigation by Repórter Brasil revealed that three DTVM companies—Ourominas, D’Gold, and Carol—have been implicated in investigations related to gold mining in Yanomami territory. Furthermore, these companies and their executives are involved in at least seven lawsuits in federal courts related to environmental crimes or money laundering connected to illegal mining in the Amazon. However, none of these cases have reached a verdict, and the companies continue to operate.
Human rights organizations, including the Escolhas Institute and Human Rights Watch, have identified companies whose supply chains may be linked to gold illegally mined from indigenous lands in Brazil. These include luxury brands such as Bulgari, Rolex, and Tiffany. According to the NGOs, these companies have not provided detailed information about the origin of the gold they use.
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre requested comments from Ourominas, D’Gold, Carol, Bulgari, Rolex, and Tiffany regarding these allegations. Responses were received only from Ourominas, Rolex, and Tiffany.