Two operations against illegal gold exploitation carried out by Colombia’s Technical Investigation Team (CTI) of the Attorney General Office, gave as a result nine people captured and a large amount of seized machinery in the shore of the Pacific Ocean.
Firstly, a joint procedure among CTI and the group of investigations against environmental offences, and with the support of the army, a raid and search operation was carried out in el Guaje mine, reserve in the municipality of Atrato-Yuto.
Nine people who are investigated for the alleged commission of an offence related to damages to natural resources and illicit exploitation of a mining deposit and other materials were there captured. Two backhoes and three tractors were seized in this place.
Simultaneously, in the rural settlement El Naranjal, jurisdiction of the municipality of Guachené (Cauca), CTI found a large amount of machinery and equipment for the illegal extraction of gold. Six camps and machinery were found there.
Two backhoes, three sorter rollers and three water pumps were seized in this place. Investigations indicate that this illegal gold mine is run by FARC guerrillas.