So, like, there were these 13 security guards at a big gold mine in Peru, right? And, get this, they got kidnapped by some shady characters. Well, turns out their bodies were found by a search and rescue team last Sunday. The mining company, La Poderosa, said that these guards were taken by informal miners associated with criminal gangs who attacked the mine on April 26.
La Poderosa, a company from Lima, Peru, has been dealing with violence at the mine in Pataz for, like, ages. I mean, they’ve lost 39 workers since they started operating in 1980, including these unlucky 13. The company even mentioned how the situation is getting out of hand, despite the state of emergency and the police presence in the area.
In a crazy event back in December 2023, some illegal miners used explosives to attack the same mine, killing nine people and injuring 15. Talk about intense! La Poderosa had to beef up security after that, obviously.
Now, in Trujillo, where some of the victims’ families were waiting for the bodies, one guy named Abraham Dominguez was speaking out. He wanted justice for his son Alexander, who was found dead in the mine. It’s really sad to think about, you know?
The Peruvian police and Interior Ministry haven’t said anything about the situation yet. I mean, come on, guys, we need some answers here!
Mining is a huge deal for Peru, being a major gold and copper producer in Latin America. They even let informal miners operate under certain conditions, but things got out of control with the rise of illegal mining. It’s been a real mess, with extortion and crime on the rise in the northern mining areas.
Overall, it’s a tough situation for everyone involved. Hopefully, the authorities can step up and make sure it doesn’t happen again. But, hey, what do I know? I’m just a new journalist trying to make sense of it all.
