COLOMBIA: Colombian police combat illegal mining, which authorities say is used to fund illegal armed groups operating in the country

Record ID: 587157

  • Title: COLOMBIA: Colombian police combat illegal mining, which authorities say is used to fund illegal armed groups operating in the country
  • Date: 5th November 2011
  • Summary: CAUCASIA, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA (NOVEMBER 3, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AERIAL VIEWS OF THE DESTRUCTION IN THE ILLEGAL MINING AREAS VARIOUS OF MINERS PACKING DIRT IN BAGS VARIOUS OF KIDS PACKING DIRT IN BAGS VARIOUS OF MINER CARRYING DIRT TO THE RIVER MINER PLACING DIRT IN CLEANING MACHINE MINER PANNING FOR GOLD IN THE DIRT MINER UTILIZING MERCURY TO EXTRACT GOLD FRO
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Colombia, Colombia
  • Country: Colombia
  • Topics: Crime,Business,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA55GA8KZXYM3YZZA7Q7N8LKS3T
  • Story Text: Police in Colombia were cracking down on illegal gold mining in the town of Caucasia on Thursday (November 3).
    The forces, in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, have raided 11 mines in the past week, seizing equipment and weapons.
    Authorities and environmentalists are worried by large tracts of forests and parks being devastated by mining machines.
    The government is also concerned that the northern mines are being controlled by criminal gangs, linked with drug traffickers.
    However, many residents in Caucasia, which lies 500 km north of Bogota, make their living through mining and some say the crackdown is too sweeping.
    Miner James Parra said many workers were just trying to support their families.
    "I would say to the government, let the miners work, the ones who are honestly working for their families and their homes. We do not have anything to do with the delinquents. They say that we are terrorists and delinquents," said Parra.
    Police arrived in the area heavily armed, swooping down in helicopters, with machine guns at the ready.
    Traces of mercury were found on the ground, indicating malpractice. Weapons were also discovered.
    As a result of gangs competing to control the mines, the murder rate in Causasia, which has a population of just 100,000, is high. Authorities say 189 people were killed here last year, when the national average amid the same number of people is 35.
    Coordinator of Operations Against Illegal MIning, Colonel Javier Mauricio Alvarez, said it was money motivated.
    "The illegal mining that is developing in this region is also a means of financing for the criminal gangs and illegal armed groups," said Alvarez.
    The mining is carried out without adhering to health, safety or environmental regulations, causing problems for both residents and the surrounding wildlife.
    Director of the government's Office for Environmental Affairs, Marcela Bonilla, said it was causing great concern.
    "It really hurts to see, first, the destruction of the vegetation layer, then all the erosion and the sedimentation from all this mining malpractice. You can imagine they have used mercury, which you can't see, but it is a pollutant that starts accumulating in the different species and it can also affect people," said Bonilla.
    Colombia's 2010 gold production was valued at US$ 2,400m. The country has long struggled with illegal mining, with new operations constantly springing up, especially while prices remain high internationally.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
Register