Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 31st 2025 - 02:27 UTC

Tag: Illegal mining

  • Saturday, May 10th 2025 - 10:24 UTC

    At least 11 Ecuadorean troops killed in fight against illegal mining

    FARC dissidents were said to be behind the ambush

    At least 11 Ecuadorean troops were killed Friday in an ambush during an operation against illegal gold mining in the Alto Punino sector of the Amazon, near the Colombian border in Napo and Orellana provinces.

  • Monday, December 16th 2024 - 10:28 UTC

    Number of casualties of illegal mining in Bolivia soars

    Local communities are split between those who oppose these activities and those woul admit they are heavily dependent on them

    At least 119 deaths have been recorded in Bolivia in 2024 as a result of illegal mining. This figure represents an alarming increase over previous years. Most of these deaths have occurred in illegal or unregulated operations, where working conditions are hazardous, Special Force to Fight Crime (Felcc) Potosí Director Marco Antonio Dávalos explained, in whose jurisdiction 113 deaths were reported.

  • Friday, February 23rd 2024 - 16:43 UTC

    Venezuelan authorities confirm death toll of 16 after illegal mine collapse

    Governor Marcano acknowledged the dangers of illegal mining and announced plans to meet with local communities to “organize” their activity and “create safety conditions for their work”

    Venezuelan authorities confirmed the death toll of 16 miners following the collapse of an illegal gold mine in the southern state of Bolivar on Tuesday. Search efforts concluded Friday with no further casualties reported.

  • Friday, September 22nd 2023 - 09:45 UTC

    Brazil: illegal mining spreads onto 35,000 hectares

    “The size of these mines stands out on the maps and is easily identifiable even by laypeople,” Diniz said

    According to a study released Friday by MapBiomas, a website that gathers data and information on Brazilian biomes, from the soil to the Amazon, including mining, fire, and water, illegal mining in Brazil grew by 35,000 hectares in 2022 compared to the previous year, Agencia Brasil reported.

  • Friday, August 11th 2023 - 11:37 UTC

    Evidence found against 40 people for illegal mining in Roraima in 2023

    There are still “structural challenges” in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, such as cases of malnutrition and malaria

    Brazil's Federal Police (PF) found evidence against 40 people for illegal mining in Roraima in 2023, Agência Brasil reported citing data obtained through the Access to Information Law (LAI). The PF is due to forward the investigation to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which may or may not file a case before the courts, it was explained.

  • Saturday, July 22nd 2023 - 10:49 UTC

    Brazil: 18 illegal miners arrested in Yanomami land

    Operation Ágata Fronteira Norte has so far made 48 arrests

    Brazilian authorities this week arrested 18 illegal miners (garimpeiros) in Yanomami Indigenous Land during the joint operation Ágata Fronteira Norte, according to Defense Ministry sources, Agencia Brasil reported Friday.

  • Tuesday, May 2nd 2023 - 09:50 UTC

    Illegal miners gunned down in Yanomami Territory

    Health Minister Nísia Trindade visited the wounded native Brazilians at the Roraima hospital

    Brazil's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change confirmed the death of four miners inside the Yanomami Indigenous Land late on Sunday, April 30, Agencia Brasil reported. They had reacted to a raid by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). According to the ministry, during the action, large-caliber weapons were seized.

  • Wednesday, April 26th 2023 - 09:50 UTC

    Brazilian gov't tightens the screws on gold trade

    The government wants to combat illegal mining on indigenous lands

    The Brazilian Government has finalized what has become known as the Gold Provisional Measure (MP) ending good faith and requiring electronic invoices for buying, selling, and transporting gold in the country, Agencia Brasil reported.

  • Friday, February 24th 2023 - 11:05 UTC

    Two Brazilians arrested in Guyana for illegal mining

    Other miners fled the scene when they spotted soldiers arriving, it was reported

    Guyanan authorities announced Thursday that they had arrested two Brazilian nationals after a helicopter and an illegal mining site were detected.

  • Tuesday, February 7th 2023 - 09:50 UTC

    Garimpo is lethal, Brazilian minister says

    “What is being reported is still far from showing the reality there,” Guajarara said after visiting the Yanomami land

    Brazil's Minister for Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara described the presence of illegal mining (known locally as “garimpo”) in the Yanomami Indigenous Land as destructive, Agencia Brasil reported Monday.

Previous