[2] In 1922 an agricultural outpost called the Núcleo Colonial Cleveland was transformed into a political and criminal concentration camp during the presidency of Artur Bernardes (1922–1926).

The village of Vila Brasil is located in the district on the Oiapoque River opposite Camopi, French Guiana.

[5] In the 1980s, it developed into a commercial centre catering to the French town of Camopi, because of significantly lower prices.

Later, the village of Ilha Bela emerged next to Vila Brasil as a garimpeiros (illegal gold prospector) settlement.

[5] The French 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment has been stationed across the river to protect the border and prevent gold exploration.