WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING IN BRAZIL: ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL POLICE OPERATIONS IN COMBATING ORGANIZED CRIME

Abstract

Wildlife trafficking represents one of the major threats to global biodiversity and is frequently associated with organized criminal networks. In Brazil, a country that harbors one of the highest levels of biological diversity in the world, this illegal activity generates significant impacts on natural populations and compromises conservation strategies. This study aims to analyze the repressive actions of the Brazilian Federal Police in combating wildlife trafficking, with emphasis on police operations targeting transnational organized crime networks. The research adopted a qualitative and exploratory approach, structured in two methodological stages: documentary analysis of institutional news published on an official government platform and bibliographic analysis of the book Guerreiros da Natureza, which discusses the historical development of environmental crime enforcement within the Federal Police. The analysis identified several police operations focused on wildlife trafficking, revealing the diversity of species involved, the presence of endemic taxa, and the increasing use of digital platforms and postal services for illegal wildlife trade. The findings indicate that wildlife trafficking operates through complex and adaptive dynamics, requiring integrated strategies that combine law enforcement, international cooperation, conservation policies, and scientific research.