Peru halts northern mining operations After 13 Miners Killed

Peru has ordered a 30-day suspension of mining activities in the northern district of Pataz, following the kidnapping and killing of 13 gold mine workers by illegal mining gangs, President Dina Boluarte announced on Monday.

In response to the escalating violence, the government will also establish a military base in the region and implement a dusk-to-dawn curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to restore order.

“The armed forces will take control of the area where Poderosa operates,” Boluarte said, referring to Compañía Minera Poderosa, a major gold mining company in the area.

The announcement follows confirmation from Poderosa on Sunday that the bodies of 13 workers from a contracting firm had been recovered after being abducted last month. The incident is part of a broader pattern of violence in Pataz, where criminal groups have increasingly targeted mining operations.

Poderosa claims that nearly 40 people, including contractors and artisanal miners, have been killed in the region in recent months. The company has accused illegal mining gangs of systematically infiltrating its territory since 2020, despite an existing state of emergency and heavy security presence.

While Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer, its gold and silver resources are concentrated in the north, where operations like those in Pataz are now facing a serious security crisis.

Mining and Energy Minister Morge Montoro said the pause in operations could be extended beyond 30 days, depending on the security situation.

The killings and subsequent crackdown underscore the growing challenge posed by illegal mining and organized crime in Peru, which threatens not only public safety but also the stability of one of the country’s most vital economic sectors.

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