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| Brazil dismantles 'biggest destroyer' of Amazon rainforest | Brazil dismantles 'biggest destroyer' of Amazon rainforest |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The authorities in Brazil say they have dismantled a criminal organisation they believe was the "biggest destroyer" of the Amazon rainforest. | The authorities in Brazil say they have dismantled a criminal organisation they believe was the "biggest destroyer" of the Amazon rainforest. |
| The gang is accused of logging and burning large areas of public land in the Amazon and selling these illegally to cattle farmers. | The gang is accused of logging and burning large areas of public land in the Amazon and selling these illegally to cattle farmers. |
| In a statement, Brazilian Federal Police said the group committed crimes worth more than $220m (£134m). | In a statement, Brazilian Federal Police said the group committed crimes worth more than $220m (£134m). |
| A federal judge has issued 14 arrest warrants for alleged gang members. | A federal judge has issued 14 arrest warrants for alleged gang members. |
| Twenty-two search warrants were also issued and four suspects are being called in for questioning. | Twenty-two search warrants were also issued and four suspects are being called in for questioning. |
| The police operation covers four Brazilian states, including Sao Paulo. | The police operation covers four Brazilian states, including Sao Paulo. |
| Five men and a woman have already been arrested in Para state in northern Brazil, Globo news reported. | Five men and a woman have already been arrested in Para state in northern Brazil, Globo news reported. |
| 'Fifty years in jail' | 'Fifty years in jail' |
| "The Federal Police carried out today Operation Chestnut Tree designed to dismantle a criminal organisation specialising in land grabbing and environmental crimes in the city of Novo Progresso, in the south-western region of Para," the police said in a statement. | "The Federal Police carried out today Operation Chestnut Tree designed to dismantle a criminal organisation specialising in land grabbing and environmental crimes in the city of Novo Progresso, in the south-western region of Para," the police said in a statement. |
| "Those involved in these criminal actions are considered the greatest destroyers of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest." | "Those involved in these criminal actions are considered the greatest destroyers of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest." |
| The group members face charges of invading public land, theft, environmental crimes, forgery, conspiracy, tax evasion and money laundering. | The group members face charges of invading public land, theft, environmental crimes, forgery, conspiracy, tax evasion and money laundering. |
| They could be sentenced to up to 50 years in jail, although the maximum length that can be served by law in a Brazilian prison is 30 years. | They could be sentenced to up to 50 years in jail, although the maximum length that can be served by law in a Brazilian prison is 30 years. |
| Last year, the Brazilian government said the rate of deforestation in the Amazon increased by 28% between August 2012 and July 2013, after years of decline. | Last year, the Brazilian government said the rate of deforestation in the Amazon increased by 28% between August 2012 and July 2013, after years of decline. |
| It made a commitment in 2009 to reduce Amazon deforestation by 80% by the year 2020. | It made a commitment in 2009 to reduce Amazon deforestation by 80% by the year 2020. |
| Brazil is home to the biggest area of Amazon rainforest, a vast region where one in 10 known species on Earth and half of the planet's remaining tropical forests are found, according to the leading conservation organisation WWF. |