La illegal minery has become one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and social stability in different regions of South America. This clandestine activity, carried out outside the law and without environmental controls, generates since million-dollar losses of resources to the irreversible degradation of ecosystems such as the Amazon and large tropical forests. Governments in the region have intensified their efforts to combat the phenomenon, through police operations, legal reforms, and the innovative use of technology to disrupt the networks supporting the mafias dedicated to mineral extraction and trafficking.
In recent months, authorities in various countries have launched decisive interventions and sought to strengthen the legal framework to dismantle the criminal structures that profit from illegal mining. The results of these actions confirm that collaboration between institutions and the implementation of innovative policies can make a difference, although the challenge remains due to the complexity and international reach of these networks.
Peru intensifies operations and confiscates gold linked to illegal mining
En Peru, security forces have recently carried out large-scale interventions in key areas where illegal miners operate. In the province of Condorcanqui, located in the department of Amazonas, a mega-operation With the participation of more than fifty environmental police officers, special operations units, and representatives of the Public Ministry, the coordination of the Army and Air Force led to the destruction of machinery and materials valued at nearly $13 million.
During the operation, excavators, engines, mineral processing plants, electric generators, camps, and logistical infrastructure designed to facilitate illegal mining were disabled. Among the destroyed materials were thousands of meters of hose, dozens of barrels and gallons of fuel, satellite dishes, and kilometers of unauthorized roads that served both the mining and mining operations. traffic of goods as well as for the clandestine export of minerals abroad. According to official sources, clear signs of Environmental degradation, a product of the unscrupulous actions of mafias, which also violate indigenous territories and put the security of local communities at risk.
The Peruvian judicial system has also taken important steps to stem the flow of illicit money derived from illegal mining. Recently, an operation resulted in the seizure of a gold bar valued at more than $600.000 that was attempting to be shipped to India without clear legal backing for its origin. The seizure, based on the concept of asset forfeiture, was supported by a technical investigation that determined the mineral's illicit origin and allowed the mineral to be transferred to state control. This procedure reveals how legal tools can prevent the economic benefits of illegal mining from being legitimized through the financial or export systems.
Venezuela: Forests under threat from illegal mining and accelerated deforestation
Venezuela is facing an alarming loss of forest cover, with more than 27.000 hectares of forest lost in just four months of 2025, mainly in the states of Amazonas and Bolívar, south of the Orinoco. This devastation is largely attributed to the expansion of illegal mining, along with activities such as uncontrolled logging and agriculture, which accelerate the destruction of ecosystems.
The expansion of illegal mining not only destroys vegetation but also contaminates rivers with toxic substances such as mercury, degrades soils, and displaces animal species. Venezuelan tropical forests, critical for climate regulation and carbon storage, are seeing their ecological functions compromised by the actions of groups operating outside the law and exploiting weak state controls.
Experts warn that a lack of oversight, corruption, and a lack of sustainable economic alternatives have led communities to rely on illegal mining, increasing social and environmental conflicts in the region.
Brazilian Amazon: Technology and agreements to curb environmental crime
Brazil has implemented an innovative strategy through an agreement with the company Starlink to limit the use of satellite internet In the Amazon, criminal groups used this technology to coordinate their operations, anticipate police movements, and organize rapid evacuations of their camps in anticipation of raids.
With the entry into force of the agreement, users in protected areas must validate their identity and address to activate the service. In addition, the company undertakes to provide geolocated information of the teams involved in official investigations and suspend connections linked to illicit activities immediately.
This breakthrough aims to transform technology from a facilitator of crime to a tool for protecting the rainforest. The agreement, initially valid for two years with the possibility of extension, could serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges in remote and hard-to-reach regions.
It is essential to strengthen controls over the sale and distribution technological devices, increase surveillance in protected areas, and improve international cooperation to combat illegal mining and other environmental threats in the Amazon and throughout the region.
Recent actions in Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil reflect the urgency of addressing the problem with diverse strategies, from confiscation operations and legal changes to technological regulations for digital services. The fight against illegal mining and environmental destruction requires the ongoing participation of governments, organizations, and citizens.