In Peru there has been a strong crackdown on illegal mining activities. The nation’s security forces launched a planned offensive this weekend against illegal gold mining that is constantly damaging the Amazon habitat.
About a thousand military troops and police officers are part of the month long operations which are being aided by helicopters and motor boats. On the very first day of operations they caught 13 river dredgers which were pumping silt up from the riverbed. Another seven were sunk, burnt or destroyed as per the defence ministry statement.
The operation which aims to protect the environment and stop illegal mining which is causing loss of taxes to the government has a heavy agenda of tracking down and destroying about 300 pieces of mining equipment being used by the illegal miners. Most of this is in the south east Puerto Maldonado region along the Inambari River.
Peru has been the fifth largest producer of gold in the world and has seen about a quarter of its production coming from illegal sources. The deforestation and mercury contamination associated with illegal mining is a major threat. The Environment Minister Antonio Brack said that they could not afford to let rivers get destroyed, with fish subjected to three times the amount of mercury normally tolerated internationally.
There has been local opposition to the huge clean up operation but the first day saw no clashes.
Illegal miners are reportedly able to make up to $30,000 per day without paying taxes on their gold extractions. Many migrant workers manage to find work here. However social ills like child prostitution, money laundering, slavery and drug-trafficking are also becoming serious side effects of the illegal mining operations.