Peru faces urgent need for national strategy against illegal mining

Experts and commentators are calling for a comprehensive national strategy in Peru to combat illegal mining, which is estimated to move more than US$ 12 billion annually. This illegal activity represents approximately two-thirds of all illicit economies in the country.

Geologist Marcos Oyola suggests that a successful strategy must combine strict oversight, control of mineral commercialization, and technical assistance for those seeking to formalize. He emphasizes the need for coordinated action between the National Police, Sunat, and the Public Ministry to investigate not only the extractors but also the financiers, transporters, and buyers of illegal minerals.

There are also concerns regarding the Integral Mining Formalization Registry (Reinfo). Critics argue that the registry, intended to be temporary, has become a permanent system used to evade criminal responsibility for illegal mining and the invasion of formal concessions. In regions like the southern mining corridor and Pataz, thousands of trucks are reportedly used annually to transport illegal minerals. To address this, specialists recommend simplifying bureaucratic processes to distinguish legitimate small-scale miners from criminal structures.