Two mining production units and five excavators were destroyed as part of this operation against illegal mining extraction. In addition to the results against this illegal group, water tributaries hit by this illegal activity are recovered.
The deployment of troops of the Cauca Specific Command, the Colombian Air Force and the National Police led to dealing a new blow against the illicit finances of the Residual Organized Armed Group Jaime Martínez derived of the illicit extraction of mining deposits. The military operation framed in the Ayacucho Campaign Plan took place in the village of San Antonio de Chuare in the municipality of López de Micay, Cauca, where the neutralization of elements that were used for the extraction of about 4,000 grams of gold per month was carried out.
The verifications and work of the troops led to find two mining production units in which five excavators, six industrial engines, two dredgers and countless industrial elements, so troops neutralized the threat posed to the environment.
According to military intelligence information, it was established that members of the GAO-r Jaime Martínez carry out extortion of money against people in the area who specialize in illegal extraction, charging about 20% of the money obtained of the marketing of minerals. The elements had a productive capacity of 4,000 grams per month, generating a criminal income of approximately 14 billion pesos annually.
This illicit money feed the finances of this residual structure with which criminal and terrorist operations are carried out in various areas of the department of Cauca.
So far this year, 33 mining production units have been hit with the finding of 20 excavators, two backhoes and four dredgers, more than fifty thousand gallons of fuel were in the same way found, thus preventing further damage to the flora, fauna and environment in the southwest of the country; indicators that exceed the numbers achieved in the previous year.
The troops will remain in the sector in order to prevent the invasion of areas of special ecological importance in order to prevent the damage of natural resources and environmental pollution due to the illicit exploitation of mining deposits or fuels.
Colombian National Army, in compliance with the Amazonas Plan, which seeks the protection of water, biodiversity and the environment, is constant in its operation against this illicit activity that hits this important environmental reserve for the region.
Source: Press Third Division of Colombian National Army
