Brazil's Police Discover Items Belonging to Missing Pair in Amazon | Here's What They Found

Brazil's police on Sunday retrieved several items belonging to the missing pair in Amazon, British Journalist Don Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.

According to Associated Press, Brazil's Federal Police said Phillips' backpack was found tied to a tree that was half submerged. BBC reported that the backpack included clothes.

The discovery was confirmed by a firefighter in Atalaia do Norte, the closest city to the search area.

The region has just passed the rainy season, making some parts of the Amazon Forest flooded.

Pereira's health ID card was also found by the police. Other items discovered by the authorities include boots, black trousers, and a flip-flop.

Reports noted that officers with the Federal Police brought the items by boat to Atalaia do Norte later in the afternoon.

Brazil: Human Remains Found in Area Where Missing Pair Was Last Seen

The discovery of the items by Brazil's police came a day after human remains were found in the river where the British journalist and the Indigenous expert were last seen in the Amazon Rainforest.

Police said that the human remains were the "biggest break" yet in the five-day investigation into the disappearance of the two men.

The human remains were found in the river near Atalaia do Norte. The said specimens are now being analyzed by experts.

Blood traces found on a boat belonging to a fisherman believed to be the suspect is also being tested.

As of Sunday, reports claimed that authorities have not yet provided details from the specimens being analyzed.

Meanwhile, another boat belonging to the suspect was discovered in the past 24 hours.

The suspect was arrested and was caught in possession of drugs, a shotgun, and ammunition restricted for military use.

Police sources identified the detained man as Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira. However, Brazil's police underscored that it was still early to connect any suspect directly to the case.

Da Costa, also known as Pelado, reportedly threatened Phillips and Pereira, as well as a group of 13 Indigenous people, on Saturday morning.

Brazil: Fish Mafia May Be Connected to the Case - Police Investigation

Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira were last seen on the morning of June 5 near the Javari Valley Indigenous territory on the border of Peru and Colombia.

The two men who went missing were reportedly in the San Rafael community and were returning by boat to Atalaia do Norte. However, they never arrived in the city.

Reports claimed that Brazil's police are now investigating a scheme run by local businessmen who pay fishermen to enter the Javari Valley, catch fish, and then deliver it to them.

One of the targets by the said fish mafia is the arapaima, the largest freshwater fish with scales. The said fish is sold to nearby cities, including Leticia in Colombia, Tabitanga in Brazil, and Iquitos in Peru.

According to AP, the Javari valley has also seen conflicts between fishermen poachers and government agents, as the area is used as waterways to ship cocaine by drug trafficking gangs.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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