Environmental Crimes Newsletter: Spring 2025
Read the latest edition of FACT’s biannual Environmental Crimes Newsletter, a round-up of recent news regarding efforts to combat environmental crimes and the dirty money associated with them.
A Deadly Gold Rush: How Soaring Prices Fuel Colombia’s Guerrilla Warfare
As gold prices surge past $3,000 per troy ounce—a historic milestone driven by geopolitical turmoil, inflation fears, and a weakening U.S. dollar— the effects are being felt around the world and underscore the role that illicit finance and illegally extracted resources play in fueling conflicts.
Takeaways from COP16 on Efforts to Combat Environmental Crimes
Following two weeks of intense discussion, debate and exchange of ideas, read Julia Yansura’s key takeaways from COP 16 Biodiversity on efforts to tackle environmental crimes like illegal mining and logging.
FACT, Allies Call for New Policy Solutions to Address Illegal Gold Mining in Amazon at UN Biodiversity Conference
A new policy brief coauthored by FACT and leading civil society organizations from Peru, Colombia, and Brazil outlines seven key recommendations for governments to better address, mitigate, and prevent the harms caused by illegal mining in the Amazon region.
U.S. Top Jurisdiction Used by Environmental Criminals to Hide Dirty Money, New Report Finds
A new report by the FACT Coalition finds that the U.S. is the most common foreign destination for the products and proceeds of environmental crimes committed in the Amazon region.
Money Laundering from Environmental Crime: Typologies and Trends in Countries in the Amazon Region
Read FACT’s latest report analyzing publicly available case data to assess how environmental crimes are committed and how their associated profits are laundered. By understanding regional trends, typologies, and red flags, this report aims to inform policy discussions and law enforcement efforts in the Amazon region to curtail illegal deforestation, protect local communities, and strengthen the rule of law.