Soldiers found two mines where the mineral was being extracted and marketed in Norte de Santander.
In the course of an operation, National Army troops, in coordination with police units, arrested six people who were engaged in illegal mining, in the municipality of Salazar de las Palmas, Norte de Santander.
The soldiers arrived at the Alto Arenal village, where people were carrying out illegal mineral extraction work without complying with the legal requirements, being arrested and put into custody of the authority for the crime of illegal extraction of mining deposits.
In the search of the area conducted by troops of the Infantry Battalion No.13 General Custodio García Rovira, elements used in the extraction such as power generators, drills and chainsaws were found by troops; they would cost approximately 80 million pesos.
With this operation it was possible to decisively hit the economic finances of individuals, by approximately 3,600 million pesos, per year, so the people who commit crimes such as the illicit exploitation of mining deposits in the region, an activity that contributes economically to the Organized Armed Group, GAO, ELN, with interference on the sector, were hit. These individuals also collected money from extortion of money made so that people could have the free mobility, and made the extraction and commercialization of the mineral.
Once the hearings had been held, the Prosecutor put the accused under surveillance and, on their own recognizance, with the commitment to identify themselves when required.
Source: Press – National Army
