[2] Its purpose was to confront the lawless situation in the region caused by the presence of illegal Brazilian and Colombian gold miners.

[1] On February 26, 1991, a group of 40 guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, who called itself "Simón Bolívar Command", crossed the border from Colombia to Brazil and raided the Traíra detachment of the Brazilian Army, which was in semi-permanent installations and had only 17 troops, less than the attacking guerrilla column.

[3] Intelligence operations claim that the attack was motivated by repression by the border detachment of illegal mining in the region, one of FARC's funding sources.

It wasn't until three days later, when a new detachment arrived to relieve the personnel on duty, that the attack became known to the Brazilian Army.

[3] Immediately the Brazilian Armed Forces, authorized by President Fernando Collor de Mello and with the knowledge and support of Colombian President César Gaviria, secretly unleashed Operation Traíra, in order to recover the stolen arms and discourage further attacks.

The balance of operation Traíra was sixty-two guerrillas killed, more than one hundred captured, and most weapons and equipment being recovered.