The National Army, in coordination with the National Police and after a military intelligence operation, managed to neutralize an illegal mining production unit in the municipality of San Rafael, in eastern Antioquia. The operation was carried out in the El Topacio village, where a camp used for illicit mining exploitation was destroyed.
Within the framework of the Ayacucho Operations Plan and in compliance with the commitments made during the Ministerial Security Council in Granada, several equipment used for illegal mining was seized. Among the confiscated objects are an excavator, two diver-type dredgers, two motor pumps and a mineral classifier, which were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities.
The action was directed against the Peacemakers of Samaná Substructure, of the Gulf Clan, and represents a strong blow to their illicit economies. The losses from this operation are estimated at more than 1.7 billion pesos. In addition, the environmental damage that this mining activity caused in the region was stopped, since the impact on the ecosystem will be approximately 40 years in its recovery.
This operation underlines the commitment of the National Army to protect the country’s natural resources and weaken the financing sources of organized armed groups, especially those that operate in Antioquia.
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More news from Antioquia
2024-12-10 01:01:00
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What are the potential environmental and social consequences of illegal mining in Antioquia, even after a large-scale operation is dismantled? [[1](https://co.boell.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Mining Production, Territory and Conflict in Colombia_digital.pdf)]
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is [Name], an expert on Colombian conflict and its environmental impact.[Name], the Colombian Army recently seized a large illegal mining operation in Antioquia.While this operation is being celebrated as a victory against the Gulf Clan and a protection of natural resources, some argue it doesn’t address the root causes of the problem. What are yoru thoughts on this operation and its potential long-term impact? Is it truly a solution, or just a temporary setback for these illegal groups?
