The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) in Brazil has confirmed that illegal pesticides and fertiliser were seized during recent raids.

The ministry said "Operation Promised Land" took place in the municipality of Patrocinio.

The action was part of the South American country's Programme for Surveillance in Agricultural Defense for International Borders, which aims to combat the illegal import and sale of pesticides, as well as the adulteration of fertilisers.

Pesticides

During the operation, an illegal warehouse was identified containing over one tonne of "irregular agricultural pesticides" and approximately 200 litres of expired products.

"The materials were stored in bags with labels in a foreign language inconsistent with the translation printed on the product, in violation of Brazilian law," Mapa said in a statement.

Preliminary analyses of the material indicated "strong evidence" of the presence of the active ingredients metsulfuron, abamectin, and thiamethoxam in the collected samples.

Officers seized the products and the warehouse was shut down.

At the same location, inspectors also seized around 6.5t of liquid molasses, which was allegedly being used illegally for animal feed.

In addition, the operation targeted a fertiliser factory belonging to the same person responsible for the illegal pesticide storage facility.

Mapa said that "substances incompatible with the registered formulation and the intended use of this type of input were found at the site".

Due to the irregularities, authorities suspended the factory's activities.

320kg and 416 litres of raw materials were seized, along with around 10t of finished fertiliser.

According to Mapa, the estimated value of the seized agricultural products is R$1,123,951 in Brazilian Real (€182,000).

The person responsible was arrested and may face criminal charges for smuggling and counterfeiting pesticides, in addition to fines, product seizure, and suspension of activities.

Mapa noted that fines for environmental offenses can reach R$3 million (€486,000).