Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Naeini: Trump's statements are a result of his defeat against Iran, and we advise him to abandon absurd policies
Gaza Government Media Office: The number of children martyred due to malnutrition has risen to 66
Saree: Loyal Yemen will not abandon its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people
Saree: Over the past week, we carried out military operations targeting sensitive sites and military installations in Beer al-Sabe', Yafa, and Haifa via a number of ballistic missiles and drones, which were all successful

Illegal fishing trafficker ordered Amazon expert and journalist murder

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jan 2023 15:29
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Brazillian authorities, after months of investigation, reveal that the person who ordered the assassination of an Amazon defender and journalist has been caught.

  • x
  • Brazilian police to indict Ruben Dario da Silva Villar as the mastermind of murders of British journalist Dom Phillips and the indigenous specialist Bruno Pereira (AP).
    Brazilian police to indict Ruben Dario da Silva Villar as the mastermind of murders of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous specialist Bruno Pereira (AP).

An illegal fishing trafficker ordered the assassination of an Indigenous tribes expert, Brazilian authorities revealed on Monday following months of investigation and arrests.

Dom Phillips, 57, a veteran freelance writer, and Bruno Pereira, 41, a known Indigenous specialist, went missing on June 5 while sailing in Brazil's Javari Valley, bordering Peru, when Phillips was investigating a book. The murders made waves, bringing the Amazon conflicts back to the forefront on the international stage. 

According to Brazilian authorities, Phillips and Pereira were assassinated on orders from a Colombian man called Rubén Dario da Silva Villar, because Pereira assisted Indigenous communities in their fight against illegal fishing and hunting, which threatened Villar's business.

Phillips happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and was murdered because he was in the company of Amazon defender Pereira at the time of the assassination.

At least four men have been detained in connection with the assassination of Pereira and Phillips, the last of which has been Villar who was accused of ordering the killings, for which he is set to be indicted, and thus bringing the investigation to an end.

The three additional individuals have been accused by the federal police of either executing the murders or assisting in hiding their remains. 

Related News

Jair Bolsonaro faces coup trial in Brazil’s supreme court

Brazil's Bolsonaro says rushed trial aims to block his reelection bid

However, the police continue the search for a final individual suspected of having supplied the killers with the weapon, and subsequently played a role in hiding the corpses.

These conclusions remain lacking as the main points of address for Indigenous groups, remain unanswered.

Eliesio Marubo, a lawyer with Univaja, an Indigenous association that worked with the assassinated Amazon defender, argued, “Who is financing these people so they can continue their illegal activities?” adding that “the federal police didn’t answer that. We need a deeper investigation.” 

Amazon fisherman confesses to killing missing pair

A federal police investigator stated at a press conference in the Amazon city of Manaus earlier in June that the lead suspect confessed and explained what happened to Phillips and Pereira. According to investigator Eduardo Alexandre Fontes, Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, 41, called Pelado, informed authorities he killed the men with a gun.

Pelado led authorities to the spot where police recovered the remains. Torres noted that "we would have no way of getting to that spot quickly without the confession."

Torres said the remains would be given to the proper families. Pelado's family had said that he claimed police tortured him to get a confession. 

Pereira, and Phillips, were last seen on their boat on a river at the entrance of Peru's and Colombia's Javari Valley Indigenous Territory. There have been violent clashes between fishermen, poachers, and government authorities in that region.

Read more: Lula accuses Bolsonaro of genocide against Yanomami in Amazon

  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • Dom Phillips
  • illegal-fishing
  • Brazil
  • Amazon
  • Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
  • Amazon Rainforest
  • Bruno Pereira

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS