Ecuador declares illegal mining a national security threat and plans military crackdown

Ecuador’s government has reclassified illegal gold mining as a threat to national security, allowing the armed forces to intervene under a broader security mandate. The Ministry of Defense and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces are preparing a new strategy that will be presented to the Security Bloc in the coming weeks.

Since January, operations against illegal mining have reportedly caused economic losses exceeding $4.391 billion for organized crime groups. The military has intervened in 1,060 mining camps, neutralized 1,654 booby‑trapped entrances, and destroyed or disabled 501 excavators, 468 classifiers and 266 dredges. Authorities seized 48,708 sacks of gold‑bearing material. Officials say the activities are linked to drug trafficking, hydrocarbon smuggling and human‑trafficking networks.

Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo said the crackdown will use artillery and other assets to prevent the re‑opening of illegal sites and to protect the country’s natural resources.