Authorities from five Amazon countries have arrested hundreds in a major crackdown on environmental crimeBOGOTA, Colombia -- Police from five Amazon countries have arrested hundreds of people and seized timber, minerals and thousands of livestock in one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on environmental crime ever carried out in the world’s largest rainforest. Authorities also rescued more than 3,000 live animals and recovered at least 430 dead animals linked to wildlife trafficking, including snakes, birds, lizards and fish. Environmental crime has become one of the Amazon’s most profitable illicit industries, fueled by global demand for gold, timber and wildlife. Investigators say the same criminal organizations often combine illegal mining, logging and wildlife trafficking, using shared trafficking routes and financial networks that span national borders. Peruvian police environmental chief Gen. J. Manuel Cruz Chamba said environmental crimes “do not respect borders” and therefore require international cooperation.