Thirteen miners who had been kidnapped while working at a gold mine in Peru have been discovered dead, highlighting the rising threat posed by organized crime in the region. The incident took place at a mine owned by Poderosa, a major mining company located in Pataz province, north of Lima. The miners were reportedly taken hostage after being sent to confront a group involved in illegal mining activities. For over a week, the criminal gang held them captive in a mine shaft, sending alarming threats to the miners' families throughout their ordeal.
The owner of Poderosa expressed disappointment in the police's inability to combat the increasing violence surrounding illegal mining operations. The company, which provides jobs for around 8,000 individuals, emphasized the need for greater government intervention to ensure the safety of its employees and combat rising criminality. A social media video allegedly recorded by the kidnappers suggested that the miners were executed execution-style, although the motive behind their deaths remains unclear.
Since 2020, illegal mining has severely disrupted operations at several Poderosa mines, forcing the company to abandon various projects. Fatal incidents linked to these illegal miners include a violent attack on contractors that resulted in two casualties earlier this year. Poderosa noted that illegal mining and organized crime are flourishing with minimal resistance, calling for immediate action from authorities to restore order in the region where Peru, one of the world's top gold producers, mines significant quantities annually.
