Brazilian authorities carried out further research Thursday in an effort to locate the British journalist and Brazilian expert, who were missing since Sunday in Amazon. They did not exclude "any track", which included the possibility of homicide in a region that is a hub for trafficking.
Despite the fact that so much time has passed since their disappearances, the federal police, army, and other agencies still believe they can find Dom Phillips (57), a regular contributor to The Guardian and Bruno Pereira (41), a well-known expert on indigenous peoples who was taken missing in the Amazon rainforest. Eduardo Alexandre Fontes is the chief of federal police for the state Amazonas (northeast).
He said that the Javari Valley, in the west of Amazonas state, where the men went missing, was "quite dangerous" and had high criminality. There is significant cross-border drug trafficking because of its proximity to Peru and Colombia as well as illegal mining and fishing.
Two men traveled from Atalaia do Norte in the state Amazonas to interview people around a Funai Base - a government agency responsible for indigenous peoples. They reached Lake Jaburu Friday evening. After a stop at Sao Rafael where Bruno Pereira had planned to meet with the chief, they headed back to Atalaia Do Norte on Sunday morning.
Six people were interviewed and one man was taken into police custody as a suspect. Witnesses claimed that he was speeding in a boat the same direction Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira were last seen. He was reportedly found with illegal caliber ammunition and drugs. Carlos Mansur is the Amazonas security secretary responsible for local police. He said that while police had seized "materials" to search for "traces blood", it is not suspicious.
This operation involves 250 police officers, military personnel, rescue workers, and two planes, drones. It also includes sixteen boats, various vehicles, and 16 boats.
The government of President Jair Bolsonaro has been under increasing pressure. He is accused of causing delays in research and in these cases, the first 48 hours can be crucial.
The disappearance of Pele triggered the mobilization and support for the environment and human rights by a number of people and groups. Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer, wrote on Instagram: "The fight to preserve the Amazon rainforest is our collective responsibility." She was accompanied by a Tuesday video of Dom Phillips' wife crying as she appealed to the Brazilian authorities for help.
On Tuesday, the Brazilian president described the two-man expedition as an "unsavory adventure". He said, "It could be an accident. They may have been executed."
Greenpeace, a non-governmental organization, stated in a press release that the two men disappeared because of Bolsonaro's aggressive encouragement of environmental retreat in protected areas and against environmentalists. Far-right President is accused of inciting invasions of indigenous lands to allow for the development and mining of agribusiness. Greenpeace stated that Brazil's indigenous peoples were not as attacked in the last three years. They cited a report in 2020 of 20 deaths of environmental activists.
