Meio Ambiente

An illegal airport used for the trafficking of drugs, arms and wildlife was closed down on Friday (February 26) in an ecological blitz with the participation of the minister of the Environment, Carlos Minc. The airstrip was situated in the Environmental Protection Area of Maricá, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

With a backhoe, the Military Police made several holes in the runway to prevent airplanes from landing. And minister Carlos Minc announced a project of environmental restoration for the region, with endemic species.

The operation was attended by the Special Adviser to the MMA José Padrone, the mayor of Maricá, Washington Quaquá, the Secretary of the Environment of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Marilene Ramos, members of the Integrated Coordination to Fight Environmental Crime and of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro.

Minister Minc arrived at the scene on board of the helicopter of the Rio de Janeiro State Environmental Institute (INEA). "This is the first operation of the INEA's helicopter, and with this equipment we will expand the state environmental monitoring, as well as the fight against fires", Minc said.