Peru’s President Implements Curfew Amid Rising Violence in Gold Mining Sector
President Dina Boluarte of Peru has imposed a suspension on gold mining activities and announced a 12-hour curfew in Pataz, located in the northern part of the country, following the tragic murder of 13 gold miners.
La Poderosa, a local gold mining company, reported on Sunday that police discovered the remains of the contract workers in one of the mine’s tunnels.
During a press briefing on Monday, Boluarte stated that “the military will oversee the area controlled by La Poderosa,” although she didn’t elaborate on how the 30-day mining ban will be enforced.
The government’s response, criticized as too slow and ineffective, arises amid public outrage over the death of the 13 miners, who had reportedly been held captive for over a week by criminals suspected of being involved in illegal mining operations. Police indicated that a disturbing video, allegedly recorded by the captors, showed miners being tortured, culminating in one being shot at close range.
At a time when international gold prices have climbed once more to around $3,500 per ounce, Peru—Latin America’s top precious metals producer—faces an alarming increase in illegal gold mining. This wave of crime has contributed to a significant rise in both employment and violence, with record homicide rates rising by 35.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
“Illegal mining has become the most lucrative criminal activity in the country,” remarked Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer. He noted that illegal gold mining contributes $9 billion, or 60% of Peru’s laundered assets, according to the national financial unit.
Initially restricted to certain areas, illegal gold mining has proliferated across the nation since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The gold-rich region where the mine is located in La Libertad has been under a state of emergency for over two years due to escalating violence.
This recent tragedy marks the total number of artisan miners and workers killed at the hands of the Pataz criminal gang to 39.
Despite declaring a state of emergency and the presence of significant police forces, “the unchecked cycle of violence in Pataz continues, highlighting the failure to improve security conditions in the region,” the statement emphasized.
In December, thousands of gold miners protested in downtown Lima, blocking major highways to demand government action on informal and illegal miners, known as Reinfo, who they believe are shielded from prosecution.
