LIMA, May 5, 2025 — In response to the brutal killing of 13 gold miners, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced a 30-day suspension of mining activities in the northern Pataz district. The decision follows the abduction and murder of workers from the artisanal mining firm R&R, a contractor for the prominent gold producer Poderosa.

The miners were kidnapped on April 26 by individuals identified as illegal miners. Their bodies were later recovered by police forces. Poderosa condemned the act, attributing it to criminal groups associated with illegal mining operations that have increasingly taken control of the region.

President Boluarte emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring order in the area. “We cannot allow criminal elements to continue operating with impunity,” she stated. In addition to the mining suspension, the government plans to establish a military base in Pataz and enforce a curfew to enhance security and deter further illegal activities.

Poderosa has reported a surge in violence linked to illegal mining since 2020, with at least 39 workers killed and multiple attacks on infrastructure, including the destruction of 15 high-voltage towers. Despite the region being under a state of emergency with military and police presence, such incidents have persisted.

The company has urged the government to intensify efforts against illegal mining, advocating for direct intervention at unauthorized mining sites where armed groups are believed to operate.

Peru, a leading global producer of minerals and the third-largest copper producer worldwide, faces ongoing challenges in balancing its mining-driven economic interests with the need to address illegal mining and associated violence.

Source; Reuters