Brazil’s environmental agency tried to cover up the torching of its own helicopters

In the early morning on Monday, two helicopters belonging to Brazilian environmental protection agency Ibama were torched in a flying club in Manaus, in the northern state of Amazonas. Authorities believe the crime was committed by illegal gold miners working on the Madeira River. At the end of last year, an Ibama operation in the region resulted in the seizure of more than 100 mining barges.

Footage of one of the aircraft in flames circulated around Brazil’s leading media outlets, but that wasn’t Ibama’s plan. Sources linked to the agency tell The Brazilian Report  that Ibama issued an order not to publicize the attack as it would “look bad” and could “encourage other similar acts.”

Environmental inspectors in the region were taken aback by the directive, which was given verbally by their superiors. “It’s strange. This type of guidance never happen before. We noticed that Ibama only started investigating the case because it ended up in the press,”...