Brazil police ops bag illegal agchems

Brazilian police and government operations seized 8.3 tonnes of illegal pesticides in five operations between January and April, national media report. The authorities detained almost 90 suspects on contraband trafficking and environmental crimes. The environmental agency, the Ibama, applied a R$4.2 million ($2.1 million at the current rate) fine on a farm in Rio Grande do Sul. Since 2001, the authorities have apprehended some 460 tonnes of illegal pesticides, detaining or arresting over 900 suspects, the report adds. The courts have so far punished 40, while almost 320 tonnes of the seized products have been incinerated.