Peru authorities intensify crackdown on illegal mining operations

Authorities in Peru are implementing new measures to combat illegal mining and environmental crimes across different regions. In Huánuco, the Regional Government has provided the Peruvian Navy with two small vessels and outboard motors to enhance patrols in the Amazonian ecosystems. This equipment is intended to help the Navy detect and prevent the illegal extraction of flora and fauna, as well as the dumping of heavy metals like mercury into rivers.

In Arequipa, a police operation titled ‘Auríferos del Sur II’ resulted in the seizure of assets valued at over 14 million soles. The intervention, led by the National Police’s Environmental Directorate and the Public Ministry, targeted two areas. In Cerro Colorado, authorities dismantled a processing facility, seizing over 2,000 bags of minerals, heavy machinery, and electrical generators, leading to five arrests. In the Choco district, operations uncovered five mine shafts and 115 rustic camps used for illegal extraction.