Colombia Targets Illegal Mining Infrastructure to Disrupt Armed Groups’ Funding
Since taking office Aug. 7, President Abelardo de la Espriella’s administration has stepped up military and police operations against illegal-mining infrastructure and the revenue streams that security forces say fund armed groups. Colombia’s security forces reported 124 arrests and the disabling of 269 illegal-mining production units and mine shafts between Aug. 7 and Sept. 28. […]
Colombia's military and police forces have intensified efforts to dismantle the infrastructure that finances armed groups through illegal mining. President Abelardo de la Espriella's administration launched a campaign targeting mining complexes in Nariño, Magdalena Medio, and other regions. Between August 7 and September 28, security forces made 124 arrests, disabled 269 production units, and dismantled 16 large dredging machines known as "dragones."
Authorities seized over 55,000 gallons of fuel and 40 pieces of heavy machinery, contributing to the disruption of illegal mining operations.
The armed groups in the Magdalena Medio region are particularly targeted, with the military focusing on disabling infrastructure that supports illegal mining and criminal revenues. Operations in Nariño's Magüi Payan, Barbacoas, and Telembi subregion disabled machinery and infrastructure estimated to be worth over 1.8 billion Colombian pesos ($537,000).
The removed infrastructure could potentially extract up to 10,400 grams of gold per month, generating a value of more than 4.659 billion Colombian pesos ($1.39 million) on the illegal market.
In Ataco, Tolima, police disabled five excavators and two industrial engines at three illegal gold-extraction sites, valuing the machinery at around 2.57 billion Colombian pesos ($767,000). The groups operating in the area reportedly collected extortion payments totaling about 175 million Colombian pesos ($52,200) per month. However, these revenue estimates are based on police assessments rather than independently verified data.
The Magdalena Medio region is now the focus of intensified operations, with the military deploying specialized units to disable mining infrastructure, while the Navy plans to increase river patrols to intercept fuel and other supplies, and the Air Force to enhance surveillance flights. Police forces will support arrests, evidence collection, and judicial proceedings. This coordinated effort aims to address both the environmental impact of illegal mining and its role as a source of funding for armed groups.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
