Brazilian police announced Friday (July 8) that they have made a new arrest in connection with the investigation into the execution of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon a month ago.
The man, nicknamedColombiatold police he was buying local fish from one of the men arrested after admitting his involvement in the murder, alias Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira.Pelado“. “Columbia”, the fourth person arrested in this case, surrendered.automaticallyThursday to authorities to deny media reports that he ordered the crimes. He was arrested after submitting false documents.
Phillips, 57, a longtime associate with The Guardian newspaper, and Pereira, 41, a recognized expert on indigenous peoples, were in the Amazon as part of a book on environmental conservation. They were gunned down on their way back from an expedition in the Javari Valley, an isolated area of Amazonas state plagued by numerous trafficking rings. Police favor the theory that the double murder is linked to illegal fishing in protected areas, an activity that Pereira fought against. “We are investigating whether Colombia was involved in illegal fishing, whether it was financingThis activity, Eduardo Fontes, head of the Federal Police of Amazonas state, said during a press conference held on Friday. “Colombia denies involvement in the double murder and also denies a sponsorsaid Mr. Fontes. “We do not know his real identity, we know that he has newspapers from three countries (Brazil, Colombia and Peru, editor’s note), and each time with a different identity.“.
To date, three men have been detained as suspects. Five others are said to have buried the remains of the two victims underground, which were found ten days after their disappearance in a hard-to-reach area. “We are continuing our investigation to find out if other people were involved in the crimes, whether or not there was a sponsor, and what the real motive was.concluded the police chief of Amazonas.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.