Climate

Money laundering complaints target JBS, Barclays over profits linked to illegal deforestation

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 05/11/2026, 19:54:24 UTC.

Briefings

A coalition of legal groups filed 14 money laundering complaints against JBS and 12 financial institutions on November 5, 2026, alleging profits from cattle raised on illegally cleared Amazon land constitute 'proceeds of crime.' The Transnational Legal Coalition cites a 2024 investigation by Global Witness linking JBS to over 6.5 million hectares of deforestation between 1988 and 2026, with specific claims about 8,000 cows on Apyterewa Indigenous territory in Pará. The U.K. bank Barclays is identified as JBS's largest financier, earning $1.7 billion from dealings with the company between 2018 and 2023.

Key points

• The Transnational Legal Coalition filed 14 money laundering complaints against JBS and 12 financial institutions on November 5, 2026, in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
• A 2024 investigation by Global Witness linked JBS to over 6.5 million hectares of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 1988 and 2026, with specific claims about 8,000 cows on Apyterewa Indigenous territory in Pará.

Context

The Transnational Legal Coalition argues that profits from cattle raised on illegally cleared land constitute 'proceeds of crime' under anti-money laundering laws, potentially exposing JBS and its financial partners to legal liability. This follows a 2024 investigation by Global Witness that detailed specific supply chain violations, highlighting the intersection of corporate finance and environmental crime in the Brazilian Amazon.

Limitations

The evidence relies on a 2024 investigation by Global Witness and a 2026 coalition statement, with specific acreage figures and dates potentially subject to verification. The source explicitly states the article was originally published on Mongabay, indicating the content may not be fully verified or finalized.

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