It was successfully possible to find several elements used for the illicit extraction of mineral deposits, as well as the arrest of the six alleged responsible for carrying out this activity in the municipality of Ataco, department of Tolima, thanks to a joint and coordinated operation conducted by the Colombian Air Force, the National Army and the National Police, with the support of CORTOLIMA.
The operation was carried out in the Potreritos village, directly harming the illicit activities of an Organized Crime Group, which commits crimes in the central west of the country, whose loss is, on average, approximate 54 million pesos per month; this group earned money through the illegal production and commercialization of the mineral.
The detainees were put into custody of the authority for the crimes of illegal exploitation of mineral deposits, damage to natural resources and invasion of an area of special ecological importance. Among the items troops found there are three mining production units, seven engines, a power generator and seven hoses of different calibers.
This result is the product of the joint work conducted by the Colombian Air Force together with the other members of the Military Forces and institutions that work for the protection of the environment, taking into account that illegal mining negatively disturbs geological, biological, water, atmospheric and socio-economic resources.
Source: CACOM 4 Public Communications - Colombian Air Force
