PF arrests investigation for deforesting an area equal to 800 football fields in the Caatinga in AL The Federal Police preventively arrested, this Thursday (16), a man identified by the Public Ministry of Alagoas (MP-AL) as responsible for the largest illegal devastation of the Caatinga in the state. His name was not released. ?Join the g1 Alagoas channel According to the investigation, he deforested more than a thousand hectares of native vegetation — an area equivalent to around 800 football fields. The court also ordered the freezing of assets to ensure the repair of environmental damage. The arrest was ordered by the 17th Criminal Court of the Capital following a request from the MP-AL, through the Environmental Defense Center (NUMA) and the Traipu Public Prosecutor's Office. The investigation is the result of actions by the Integrated Preventive Inspection (FPI) of the São Francisco River, coordinated by the MP-AL and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), with the participation of Ibama, the Environmental Institute (IMA), the Environmental Police Battalion and the Scientific Police. How the deforestation scheme worked PF arrests person being investigated for deforesting the equivalent of 800 football fields in AL MP/AL According to the MP-AL, forensics and satellite images show that the person being investigated maintained an organized deforestation scheme. He used heavy machinery to cut down large areas of native vegetation and set fire to the remains of the forest to prepare the land for economic exploitation. In addition to the destruction of the Caatinga, experts identified the irregular disposal of highly toxic pesticide packaging, which may have contaminated the soil and water resources in the region. For the Public Ministry, the practice also constitutes a crime of pollution. According to the NUMA coordinator, prosecutor Kléber Valadares, the person being investigated continued deforesting even after receiving fines, embargoes and orders to stop activities. "The person under investigation used heavy machinery to make shallow cuts in native vegetation and used fire to eliminate forest remnants. Furthermore, the irregular disposal of pesticides put the soil, water resources and the health of the population at risk," said the prosecutor. Recidivism and criminal record Investigated person ignored fines, used fire to clear land and disposed of pesticides irregularly. MP/AL The MP-AL based the arrest request on the suspect's recidivism, who ignored the punishments applied by environmental agencies and treated the fines as part of the costs of the illegal activity. In the civil sphere, he responds to two actions that request the recovery of degraded areas and the payment of compensation for environmental damage. The Court has already ordered the freezing of assets to ensure compliance with these measures. According to the Public Ministry, the person being investigated has a history that reinforced the need for preventive detention. He is the target of: Two criminal actions for deforestation in Alagoas; A case in the Court of Justice of Maranhão for qualified homicide and alleged participation in a criminal organization.