Ecuador police destroy illegal mining equipment in Zamora Chinchipe

Authorities conducted an operation in the Palanda sector of Zamora Chinchipe province, Ecuador, that resulted in the destruction of machinery used for illegal mining. The raid eliminated an excavator, a Z‑type classifier, an industrial water‑suction motor, three generators and dozens of diesel fuel tanks. A hidden camp capable of sheltering about 15 people was also cleared.

The intervention, carried out in a remote part of the Amazonian region, was aimed at curbing environmental damage caused by unregulated extraction. Officials estimated the economic loss to the illicit operators at roughly US$224,000. The action reflects ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining that threatens rivers, forests and local ecosystems in southern Ecuador.