Neutralization of machinery used in illegal mining of the GAO Caparros and capture of several operators
Troops of the National Army dismantle an illegal mineral production unit, apparently belonging to the Virgilo Peralta Arenas substructure of the Organized Armed Group, GAO, Los Caparros, which generated 130 million pesos per month of illicit income.
In development of military operations, framed in the Operation Artemisa, for the protection of water, biodiversity and natural resources, soldiers of the National Army, in a coordinated work with the Police and in response to early warning No. 009 of 2018, found an illegal open-pit mine, which had machinery to extract minerals illegally and did not have any type of official license.
Army troops, thanks to the information provided by the Civic Participation Network, reach the Quebradona village in the Municipality El Jardín, Cáceres municipality, in the department of Antioquia, where they destroy under controlled way the machinery used for the illegal exploitation of this mining site, which would be at the service of the organized armed group Caparros. A dredge, five engines, a backhoe and other items used for illegal exploitation were destroyed on the site.
In the same way, the military and police proceeded to capture eight individuals, who apparently were responsible for carrying out these illegal activities. These individuals were put into custody of the authorities for the crimes of environmental contamination and illicit exploitation of mining deposits. In this way, the finances of this criminal structure are damaged, while preventing environmental damage in the region.
With this result, a reduction of the environmental impact is achieved in two hectares of the area where this mining production unit was found. The cost of the recovery of the environmental damage would be approximately 200 million pesos, and the effect over time could take 10 or 30 years for the return of the original flora and fauna.
Source: press - National Army
