Peru illegal mining expands into new regional corridors

Illegal and informal mining activities in Peru are expanding geographically, establishing new criminal corridors beyond traditional hotspots like Madre de Dios, Puno, Arequipa, and La Libertad. Official records indicate new centers of extraction, processing, and gold commercialization in Cusco, Apurímac, Cajamarca, Piura, Loreto, Huánuco, and Amazonas.

Analyst Iván Arenas notes that the expansion is driven by a diversity of minerals, including gold, copper, zinc, silver, tin, and coal. In the south, illegal exploitation has been detected in the provinces of Paucartambo, Quispicanchi, and Chumbivilcas. In Apurímac, specifically in Aymaraes, authorities recorded 21 cases of alleged illegal mining between January 2024 and May 2026.

In the north, mining activities have moved from Pataz into Cajamarca, with critical zones identified in Cajabamba, Hualgayoc, and San Ignacio, where over 200 interventions were conducted in 2025. In La Libertad, the Peruvian National Police (PNP) recently seized 302 explosive cartridges, 100 meters of slow fuse, and 103 detonators in the Quesquenda sector, citing their intended use for illegal mining and extortion.