Episode 279: The Role of Organised Crime Groups in The Amazon with César Muñoz Acebes
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil
In this episode, Dominic Bowen is joined by César Muñoz Acebes to examine the deepening crisis in the Amazon. They unpack the role of organized crime in environmental destruction, the links to drug trafficking and illegal economies, and the devastating consequences for local communities and global stability. A critical look at how crime, politics, and the environment intersect in one of the world’s most vital regions.
César Muñoz Acebes is the Brazil director at Human Rights Watch, where he supervises research, advocates for foreign and domestic policies that promote human rights, and leads fundraising efforts in Brazil. Before his current role, he served as America’s senior researcher and later associate director. In those capacities, he researched and wrote reports and articles, produced videos, and conducted advocacy on human rights abuses linked to illegal deforestation, police abuses, inhumane prison conditions, political persecution, and unchecked domestic violence, among other issues, in several Latin American and Caribbean countries. César has appeared as a human rights expert on many different broadcasters, and he has published opinion articles in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, amongst others.
The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.
Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.
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Transcript:
Cesar Munoz: [00:00:00] None of them can say, “look, it’s clean,” because they don’t control the suppliers. They only have control over the direct suppliers, but those direct suppliers buy from others. So that’s a huge reputational issue for any company or supermarket in France that sources from a company currently supplying from the Amazon.
Elisa Garbil: Welcome back to the International Risk Podcast, where we discuss the latest world news and significant events that impact businesses and organizations worldwide.
Dominic Bowen: Hi, I’m Dominic Bowen, host of the International Risk Podcast. Today we’re joined by Cesar Munoz, Brazil Director at Human Rights Watch. He supervises research and advocates for foreign and domestic policies that promote human rights, and he leads fundraising efforts across the country.
Before his current role, Cesar served as the Americas Senior Researcher and later Associate Director at Human Rights Watch. In these capacities, he’s researched and written reports and articles, produced videos, and conducted advocacy on human rights abuses related to illegal deforestation, police misconduct, inhumane prison conditions, political persecution, and unchecked domestic violence.
He’s appeared as a human rights expert on numerous broadcasters and published opinion pieces in the New York Times, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, and many others. In our conversation today, we hope to gain insight into protecting the Amazon, focusing on organized crime, supply chain abuses, environmental destruction, and what this means for business leaders and policy advisors worldwide.
Cesar, welcome to the International Risk Podcast.
Cesar Munoz: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Dominic Bowen: Cesar, from your vantage point, can you describe the convergence between crime and environmental destruction in the Amazon? What does it look like on the ground, and how has it changed in recent years? It’s more than just an environmental story today.
Cesar Munoz: Yes, absolutely. I see it not just as an environmental crisis, but as a human rights crisis. People often assume the rainforest is being destroyed by small farmers clearing land to make a living, but that’s not what’s driving large-scale destruction. It’s capital—big business.
Typically, in the Amazon, pristine areas are owned by the federal government or designated as indigenous territory. Organized groups come in with tractors and chainsaws, cut the most valuable timber, and destroy the rest—often burning what remains. The land is then converted into cattle ranches.
These organized crime networks operate illegal logging, transport timber through corruptly obtained permits, sell land illegally, and may also engage in illegal mining. It’s a complex web of criminal activities. [00:03:00]
Dominic Bowen: It’s striking that you say it’s “big business” destroying the Amazon. There’s an intersection of criminal activities—drug trafficking, illegal mining, illegal logging, land grabbing, corruption, and violence—that often occur simultaneously, reinforcing each other. Can you explain how these groups actually operate and what that means for local communities?
Cesar Munoz: It depends on the area. The Amazon is enormous—thousands of square miles. The situation at the Brazil-Colombia-Peru border is different because the primary incentive there is drug trafficking. Cocaine is transported via rivers and small planes through poorly patrolled areas.
That infrastructure for environmental crime also facilitates other illegal activities. In other parts of the Amazon, criminal groups specialize in logging, illegal cattle ranching, or mining. These networks are interconnected and pose direct threats to local communities, who are intimidated or even killed if they speak out. [00:06:00]
Dominic Bowen: That’s devastating. Considering the size of these operations—illegal airstrips, roads, ports, cattle ranching—how does this happen in a country like Brazil, a major economic power? Is it simply corruption?
Cesar Munoz: Corruption is part of it, but another factor is the lack of state presence in remote areas. Take cattle ranching, the main driver of deforestation. Land cleared for cattle is often poor quality, with few heads of cattle, but those animals enter the legal supply chain. Traceability is key, but Brazil hasn’t implemented it due to political opposition. Controlling every head of cattle would reduce the economic incentive to destroy the forest. [00:08:00]
Dominic Bowen: Let’s talk about the murders of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira in June 2022. They were targeted for protecting the Amazon and advocating for local communities. This highlights the extreme risks faced by journalists, indigenous rights advocates, and local residents. How do criminal groups maintain control and power over these areas?
Cesar Munoz: I knew Dom personally; his murder was heartbreaking. Unfortunately, such killings aren’t isolated—most victims are local residents reporting illegal activities. For example, in the TE Osa community, criminal groups took over land meant for sustainable development, cut down forests, put cattle there, and even killed residents who resisted. Police investigations often fail due to pressure from local elites, so impunity is widespread. [00:12:00]
Dominic Bowen: And for indigenous communities? How does this affect their daily lives?
Cesar Munoz: In remote areas, like the Caca community I visited, people’s traditional ways of life are disrupted. They can no longer hunt, fish, or collect nuts because surrounding illegal cattle ranches and logging threaten their physical and cultural survival. The state must evict illegal actors and maintain a presence to enforce control. Supply chain oversight is also critical to prevent illegal economic activity from being profitable. [00:15:00]
Dominic Bowen: On supply chains, many multinational companies view deforestation as a reputational risk. But your research shows structural risks go beyond reputation—climate change, legal exposure, modern slavery, operational disruption. Which of these should CEOs prioritize?
Cesar Munoz: Right now, the cattle supply chain is key. No company sourcing from the Amazon can claim their supply is clean. Direct suppliers often purchase from others, creating a reputational risk. Buyers must pressure suppliers to implement traceability. It’s not expensive; it’s a matter of willingness. Traceability also improves disease control and incentivizes legal land ownership. [00:17:00]
Dominic Bowen: You’ve criticized codes of conduct and audits. How should companies realistically ensure their supply chains in Brazil are ethical?
Cesar Munoz: Companies have significant leverage as buyers. They can pressure suppliers to control cattle and other commodities like gold, which is often illegally mined. Brazilian authorities also have a role. For example, Para state is implementing a traceability project for cattle, but enforcement is critical. At the federal level, traceability won’t be implemented until 2032—far too long. Urgency is essential. [00:20:00]
Dominic Bowen: How do your researchers verify supply chains given the threat of violence?
Cesar Munoz: There’s risk for researchers, especially in remote areas. Most danger is for local people who provide information. Human Rights Watch calls on the state to provide protection and to evict illegal actors, which is the most effective way to reduce risk for communities. [00:23:00]
Dominic Bowen: Thank you, Cesar. Your work documenting these risks and advocating for local communities is invaluable. Looking globally, what risks concern you the most?
Cesar Munoz: Climate change is the biggest issue, closely tied to the Amazon. Brazil’s deforestation decreased under the current government compared to the Bolsonaro years, which is progress. Another concern is the undermining of international law and humanitarian law globally, as seen in conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine. Powerful actors acting without restrictions threaten human rights worldwide. [00:25:00]
Dominic Bowen: Thank you for your insights, Cesar, and for joining the International Risk Podcast.
Cesar Munoz: Thank you. It was a pleasure.
Dominic Bowen: That was a great conversation with Cesar Munoz, Brazil Director at Human Rights Watch. We discussed the challenges of protecting the Amazon, organized crime, supply chains, and implications for global business leaders and policy makers.
Please visit the International Risk Podcast website and subscribe to our newsletter. Today’s podcast was produced and coordinated by Elisa Garbil. Thanks for listening. [00:26:00]
Elisa Garbil: Thank you for listening to this episode of the International Risk Podcast. For more episodes and articles, visit internationalriskpodcast.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Blue Sky, and Instagram for updates, and to ask questions to our host, Dominic Bowen. See you next time.
