Thirteen miners in Peru have been tragically found dead after being kidnapped by an armed gang at a gold mine owned by the mining firm Poderosa, situated in Pataz province, north of Lima. The miners were dispatched to confront illegal miners encroaching on their operations but were subsequently taken hostage by a criminal group seeking control of the mine. For an entire week, the gang sent ominous messages to the families of the miners, threatening their safety.
In a statement released on Friday, Poderosa expressed profound disappointment over the perceived inadequacy of police efforts to combat illegal mining. The company, employing around 8,000 individuals, noted that the region is experiencing heightened violence and unrest. According to the Peruvian news outlet Diario Correo, a video allegedly recorded by the kidnappers surfaced on social media, purportedly showing the miners being executed at close range. The motives behind such brutality remain unclear.
Since 2020, Poderosa has had to abandon operations at some of its mining sites due to the encroachment of illegal activities, which have posed significant risks to both employees and artisanal miners. Earlier this year, arcs of violence erupted when illegal miners attacked contractors near the La Ciénaga ravine, resulting in two fatalities, along with an assault that disabled infrastructure vital for mining operations. The firm criticized the government's inability to restore order and control, declaring that illegal mining and organized crime operate with "absolute impunity" in the area.
Peru stands as one of the globe's largest gold producers, responsible for over 100 tonnes annually, representing about 4% of the world’s total supply. The grim reality of the recent events underscores an urgent need to address the burgeoning crisis surrounding illegal mining in the nation.
