Former governor of Rondônia is the target of an operation against environmental crimes.

Alex Rodrigues, reporter for Agência Brasil - The Civil Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Rondônia launched, today (12), a new phase of Operation Pau Oco, which investigates environmental crimes committed with the complicity of members of the first echelon of the state government.

Among the targets of this new phase, nicknamed the Saber Test, is the former governor of the state, Daniel Pereira (PSB), at whose addresses search and seizure warrants for documents were executed. Pereira governed the state between April 2018, when then-governor Confúcio Moura resigned from office, and January 1st of this year. Currently, he is the superintendent of Sebrae in Rondônia.

The state Court of Justice issued eight preventive arrest warrants and 45 search and seizure warrants at residential and commercial addresses linked to suspects of belonging to a criminal organization that committed crimes against flora and environmental administration, as well as corruption, money laundering, influence peddling, falsification of public documents, digital embezzlement, among others.

According to the Civil Police, the criminal scheme has been under investigation since June 2018, resulting in the launch of the first phase of Operation Pau Oco in November of the same year. In a statement, the Civil Police assures that the analysis of the evidence previously collected proves the involvement of the investigated parties in "numerous crimes," with indications of the commission of other crimes beyond those initially investigated.

According to the Civil Police, a criminal organization established itself within the state's public administration starting in April 2018. "High-ranking government officials were focused on fulfilling criminal demands in the environmental sector, profiting financially and politically," the police force maintains, stating that, in addition to elected officials, the investigated group includes trusted employees holding appointed positions (i.e., non-civil service positions), business owners, environmental agents, and forestry engineers.

The 53 court orders are being executed throughout the state, especially in the regions of Espigão do Oeste, Ouro Preto do Oeste, Ariquemes, Buritis, Candeias do Jamari, Vista Alegre do Abunã, and in the capital, Porto Velho.

As superintendent of Sebrae, Pereira holds a seat on the entity's Deliberative Council in Rondônia. In a statement, the entity informed that it is awaiting the progress of the investigations before making any decision, but assured that Pereira is a "dedicated director who, in his activities, enjoys recognition for his professional qualities and we trust in his integrity as a professional and citizen".

Agência Brasil was unable to contact former governor Daniel Pereira and his lawyers.