Illegal mining with dredges causes serious environmental and social damages, by polluting rivers with sediments and toxic substances, destroying aquatic ecosystems and altering natural channels.
The elements would be linked to the Residual Organized Armed Group, Carolina Ramírez Structure, an organization that sustains its illicit activities in this strategic area of the national territory.
Within the framework of joint operations carried out by the Colombian Navy, Colombian National Army and the Colombian Aerospace Force, it was possible to find and disable nine dredgers used for the illicit exploitation of mining deposits in the departments of Caquetá and Putumayo, as part of the river comprehensive security actions aimed at protecting the environment and natural resources of the Amazonas region.
The operations were carried out in rivers and coastal areas of the municipalities of Solano and Solita, in the department of Caquetá, as well as in rural areas of Puerto Leguízamo and Puerto Guzmán, in the department of Putumayo. In these places, units of the Navy Infantry Brigade No. 3 of the Amazon Naval Force, in coordination with troops of Colombian National Army and resources of the Colombian Aerospace Force, found rudimentary dredge-type structures used for illegal mineral extraction.
During the procedures, 261 gallons of diesel type fuel were found by troops, in addition to engines, turbo extractors and other elements commonly used in illegal mining activities. According to the preliminary verifications, this element would belong to the Residual Organized Armed Group, the Carolina Ramirez Structure, an organization that finances its illicit activities through the illegal exploitation of natural resources, generating serious effects on aquatic ecosystems, pollution of water sources and risks to biodiversity and the health of communities in the region.
The dredgers and the found elements were disabled in controlled conditions at the scene of the events, in accordance with the established protocols, thus preventing further environmental damage and contributing to the elimination of this illicit activity in a strategic region of the country.
The Colombian Navy reaffirms its commitment to the protection of the environment, the defense of natural resources and the security of Amazonian communities, and will continue to carry out joint and inter-institutional operations to counter illicit activities that threaten biodiversity and the stability of the national territory.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
