Illegal gold mining operations face crackdown in Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela

Authorities in Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela are intensifying efforts to combat illegal gold mining, which is linked to organized crime and severe environmental and social risks.

In Colombia, a joint operation by the Army and Prosecutor's Office targeted the Clan del Golfo in Antioquia. The intervention of eight mining units in Cáceres and Valdivia prevented the monthly extraction of approximately 6,100 grams of gold, valued at nearly 3 billion pesos.

In Bolivia, several high-profile mining incidents have been reported. In Sorata, the Prosecutor's Office is investigating Chinese nationals for alleged illegal mineral extraction involving $5 million in machinery. In Villazón, the AJAM identified a large-scale operation involving 40 people and significant excavations. Additionally, authorities faced hostility and dynamite explosions while attempting to inspect illegal sites in Curva.

In Venezuela, reports have emerged regarding the dangerous use of indigenous children as divers in illegal mining operations along the Caroní River in Bolívar state, highlighting the humanitarian crisis accompanying unregulated gold extraction.