La Rinconada: Police rescue 12 kidnapped miners in Puno

The Peruvian National Police (PNP) successfully rescued 12 mining workers from a mine in La Rinconada, Puno, following their kidnapping by a criminal group known as ‘Los Primos’. The operation took place in the Ananea district at an altitude of over 5,100 meters.

During the rescue, police officers were met with gunfire from three suspects guarding the mine entrance. The officers repelled the attack, forcing the suspects to flee into the mine galleries. The workers, employed by the mining contractor JM, were rescued alive and received medical attention.

Authorities seized an arsenal of materials during the intervention, including a rifle magazine loaded with nine rounds, 54 additional rounds of various calibers, 180 units of explosive material, and 15 meters of fuse. The incident highlights the deep infiltration of organized crime within the informal mining sector in the southern Peruvian highlands.