In compliance with the Ayacucho Plus Campaign Plan, in its strategic objective nº 1 To Protect the inhabitants, Line of work Amazon Plan, from which follows the intermediate objective nº 16 to contribute to the protection of the environment, biodiversity and mitigate climate changes.
So far this year, the Sixth Brigade, in coordination with the National Police, the Aerospace Force and Cortolima, has dealt powerful blows to the illegal exploitation of mining deposits, for the crime of damage to natural resources and ecocides in the municipalities of Ataco, Santa Isabel, Líbano, Saldaña, Suárez and San Luis, and in this way continue contributing to the protection of the ecosystem in the department.
Ataco
In this municipality, 16 arrests have been made that hit illicit activities, since, with the illegal exploitation of gold that they were exercising, they collected about 3000 million pesos per month; in addition, chainsaws, power generators, hydraulic drills and machinery have been found, which has a commercial cost close to 1500 million pesos.
Santa Isabel
There it was possible to the arrest five individuals in flagrante delicto, who were exploiting the gold-bearing material in the rivera of the La Yuca stream, La Cumbre village, municipality of Santa Isabel, which would be used for the financing of criminal groups; in addition, it was possible to find dredgers, oxygen cylinders, hoses and compressors.
Líbano
After a thorough follow-up of more than a month, seven people were arrested, who did not have the permits sought for gold exploitation. In the place were found by troops classifiers, buckets, shovels, tubes, suction hoses and other elements used for illegal extraction, that would cost approximately 58 million pesos.
According to the investigation, this illegal activity generated a production of 600 grams of gold per month, with a price close to 300 million pesos, resources that would allegedly be used to finance criminal groups.
Saldaña
It was possible to arrest an individual for exploitation of mineral material without the corresponding permits, which was generating a serious environmental loss with the diversion of the Saldaña riverbed, in Tolima, where, in addition, it was possible to find 2 backhoes, with a commercial valuation of 960 million pesos.
Suárez
At the time of verifying the corresponding permits for the extraction of mineral material, they did not have the relevant documentation. This is how four arrests were possible, with the finding of a backhoe loader and an excavator that has a commercial cost close to 680 million pesos. It is estimated that the extraction of the material had a commercial price of 464 million pesos.
San Luis
It was possible to arrest in flagrante delicto four individuals, a backhoe and an excavator, without permits for the exploitation of mineral material.
In each of these municipalities, through these results of the military operation of the soldiers of the Sixth Brigade who are throughout the Tolima department, environmental loss has been reduced; however, it is noteworthy that the recovery of the ecosystem mostly takes about 20 years.
Source: Press - Fifth Division
