Brazilian Environmental Officials Arrested On Suspicion of Selling Licenses, Concessions

RIO DE JANEIRO—Federal Police in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state April 29 arrested 18 people, including state and municipal environmental officials, suspected of belonging to a criminal ring that illegally sold or purchased environmental licenses and concessions.

Sandro Caron de Moraes, head of the Federal Police in the state, said at a news conference that “Operação Concutere” (Operation Concussion) began in July 2012 and culminated in the arrests, which involved 150 police officers. The Federal Police are Brazil’s version of the FBI.

Caron de Moraes told the news conference that the 18 people are believed to have illegally ...