Thirteen security guards who were abducted from a prominent gold mine in Peru have been found dead after being held for over a week. This incident marks a severe intensification in the violent conflict that has overwhelmed the country’s mining areas.

The guards, working for the private security firm R&R, were sent by La Poderosa, a mining company, to address illegal mining activities in the mountains near Pataz in northern Peru. Instead, they were ambushed, taken hostage, and ultimately killed by groups that authorities describe as criminal organizations vying for control over valuable mining territories.

The abduction took place on April 26 while the guards were dealing with alleged illegal miners encroaching on company land. During their captivity, the kidnappers sent threats to the victims’ families, compounding the distress of the situation.

Following an extensive search effort, police teams located the bodies on Sunday, May 4. Reports suggest that the security guards were confined in a mine shaft before being executed.

La Poderosa, one of the largest gold producers in Peru, confirmed the deaths and pointed to the worsening security situation in the region, despite governmental efforts. “The spiral of uncontrolled violence in Pataz is occurring despite the declaration of a state of emergency and the presence of a large police contingent which, unfortunately, has not been able to halt the deterioration of security conditions in the area,” the company stated.

The mining company also noted that this incident is part of an alarming trend of violence. Since starting operations in the Pataz region in 1980, La Poderosa claims 39 of its workers (including the 13 from the recent kidnapping) have been killed by criminal groups competing for control of the profitable gold resources.

This recent incident follows a bold attack in December 2023, when illegal miners targeted the same Poderosa mine with explosives, resulting in nine fatalities and 15 injuries. The company had bolstered its security personnel in response, a measure that proved inadequate against the increasing violence.

In Trujillo, west of Pataz, grieving relatives gathered at the morgue to claim the bodies of their family members. Abraham Dominguez, whose son Alexander was among the victims, voiced the families’ demands for justice. He told Canal N television that they sought accountability, emphasizing that the response should not “just stop here.”

Peru’s Interior Ministry announced that organized crime investigators have been deployed to investigate the killings and identify those responsible. The ministry stated that law enforcement agents are “fully empowered to use their firearms if the circumstances warrant it,” indicating a potentially more assertive approach to resolving the security crisis.

In response to the tragedy, President Dina Boluarte announced a 30-day suspension of mining operations in the Pataz district and plans to establish a military base in the area. Additionally, the government will impose a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. as part of efforts to restore order.

Jorge Montoro, Peru’s Mining and Energy Minister, mentioned that the 30-day suspension could be extended if needed.

The crisis in Pataz underscores Peru’s challenges with illegal mining, which has developed into a significant and violent industry. As one of the world’s leading gold producers, Peru has a unique policy toward illegal mining, allowing informal miners to operate with certain protections as long as they intend to legalize their activities.

However, critics argue that this policy has inadvertently supported the growth of criminal enterprises. Illegal mining has surged as gold prices have increased and new mining techniques have emerged, creating a lawless gold rush that the Peruvian government struggles to control.

The violence is attributed to what local security experts describe as “parqueros” – illegal mining gangs that have become more organized and aggressive. These groups have repeatedly targeted La Poderosa’s infrastructure, including damaging high-voltage towers that supply power to the mining operations.

La Poderosa has criticized the government’s enforcement efforts, stating that police have failed to dismantle known illegal mine entrances used as hideouts by criminal groups.

According to Peru’s Energy and Mines Ministry, illegal gold mining has surpassed drug trafficking in profitability. Angela Grossheim, the head of the mining industry group SNMPE, has expressed concerns that formal mining is under significant threat. She also noted that illegal mining has become the nation’s most pressing illicit activity, exceeding even drug trafficking.

The recent deaths have sent shockwaves through Peru’s vital mining sector, which is crucial to the national economy. With rising gold prices drawing more criminal elements to the industry, security costs for legitimate mining operations have increased significantly.

As Peru continues to contend with this complex crisis, the families of the victims seek justice, while the mining industry and government search for effective solutions to protect workers and restore safety to the gold-rich areas essential to the nation’s prosperity.