Illegal mining becomes Amazon's most profitable crime

A mapping by Amazon Underworld reveals that illegal mining has surpassed cocaine trafficking as the most lucrative criminal activity in the Amazon region. Criminal factions or armed groups are currently operating in 768 of the 1,310 Amazonian municipalities—approximately 59% of the total—across six countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

In addition to gold, these groups are exploiting critical minerals such as tin, tungsten, and coltan, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. The expansion of these illicit activities has accelerated deforestation and caused widespread soil and river contamination through mercury use, impacting the health of local communities.

The report notes that criminal organizations often use local populations as human shields to protect illicit economies and obstruct state actions. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that current militarized repression strategies used by various regional governments fail to address the underlying economic and social drivers of the problem.