Brazil’s environment minister Ricardo Salles investigated over alleged illegal Amazon timber exports

Brazil’s environment minister, Ricardo Salles, has been named in a probe for alleged illegal exports of Amazon timber, following a Federal Supreme Court ruling allowing federal police raids in various ministry offices in the early hours of May 19.

The Supreme Court ruling refers to suspicious operations linked to Salles. The Federal Police reported the existence of $14.2 million reais ($2.7 million) in “extremely atypical financial transactions” involving a law firm where the minister is one of the stakeholders.

The ruling grants police access to the confidential banking records of Salles and others under investigation. Among the potential crimes are corruption, misconduct and smuggling facilitation involving public agents and businessmen in the timber industry, the documents reveal.