Within the framework of coordinated, joint and inter-institutional military operations, the Command against Drug Trafficking and Transnational Threats continues to damage the finances that organized armed groups obtain through the illicit exploitation of mining deposits.
Within the framework of the Ayacucho Campaign Plan and continuing with the policies of the National Government, Colombian National Army and the National Unit against Illegal Mining and Anti-Terrorism of the National Police carried out two military operations, the first of them with the support of the troops of the Joint Task Force Titan, in the sector of Rio Quito, department of Choc贸, where it was possible to dismantle two illegal mining production units, which had machinery used for illicit ctivities, valued at $2,780,000,000 COP. This material was destroyed in controlled conditions following the established protocols.
It is estimated that these illegal units would generate an extraction of 9,000 grams of gold per month, with an estimated cost of $2,520,000,000 in the market. In this way, it was possible to hit the illicit activities of the GAO Clan del Golfo by about $500,000,000 approximately, as a result of the collection of illegal money.
In a second operation in Amalfi, Antioquia, with the intervention of the troops of the Fourteenth Brigade, the destruction of five more illegal mining production units was carried out. Machinery valued at $2,400,000,000 COP was dismantled in the sector, with which it is estimated there was an extraction of 3600 grams of gold per month, valued at about $1,008,000,000.
With these two military operations, a significant reduction in environmental impact was possible, since damage to soil and water sources could take 20 or 30 years to recover.
The illegal exploitation of minerals in this village has been carried out without having the legal mining title stipulated in Law 685 of 2001, of the Mining Code. This activity has hit not only natural resources, but the well-being and security of the families who live and legally benefit of these water sources.
Source: CONAT-DAVAA
