An operation coordinated by the authorities has dealt a decisive blow to illegal mining in the Cauca department by destroying 18 excavators and 72 motor pumps illegally exploited by the criminal organization under the pseudonym “Marlon”.
The intervention was carried out in the Cauca River, in the municipality of Buenos Aires, as part of a joint operation by the National Police, the Colombian Air Force and the Attorney General’s Office.
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Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez reported this via the social network The state armed forces managed to dismantle and destroy gold mining machines without authorization. According to the agency, these teams provided an essential logistical link in maintaining the region’s illicit economy.
“This coup has a direct impact on the criminal logistics of structures serving alias ‘Marlon’. with an estimated economic impact of 648 million pesos, also avoiding a monthly illegal income of more than 1,600 million pesos“, he remarked.
According to the official The equipment destroyed was related to mineral processing using methods involving mercury and cyanide.Substances that endanger watercourses and the health of surrounding communities. The minister stressed that the action protects the Cauca River by preventing the indiscriminate disposal of toxic chemical compounds.
The deployed operation impacts the operability of the Marlon alias structure.considered responsible for managing networks dedicated to the irregular exploitation of mining deposits in the region. This network supports activities that involve destructive interventions in ecosystems and degradation of water quality.
Minister Sánchez emphasized in his public statement: “This result also protects the Cauca River, subject to rights, by preventing the discharge of mercury and cyanide, which destroy water and life.” The impacts of these substances include contamination of water sources and direct impact on local biodiversity.
The authorities stressed that this intervention would strengthen measures to curb the deterioration of the basins and limit the financing of criminal structures in the region.
The illegal activities are characterized by the use of excavators and motor pumps, which allow massive removal of sediments, altering the natural channel and promoting erosion and soil loss. The production and trade of these devices also contribute to the consolidation of a parallel market linked to organized crime.
Authorities reported that the operation not only dismantled a local network, but also prevented the flow of resources for broader criminal activity. The confiscated and destroyed machines represent a blow that limits the possibilities of illegal extraction.
Colombia faces further recent reports of illegal mining. At the Pablo Sánchez mine in Quípama (Boyacá), an irregular break-in was reported by the operating company since the morning of December 18th. An unauthorized group entered by force and attempted to steal emeralds using explosives and hydraulic drills.
The company’s statement said: “A group of people illegally entered the mine with explosives and hydraulic drills with the aim of stealing emeralds. This illegal action poses a serious threat to the stability of the mining infrastructure and to the safety of people working in the area.”
The company activated internal security protocols and requested the intervention of authorities to restore order and protect its staff.
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