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13 Kidnapped Security Guards Found Dead in Peru’s Mining Conflict

The discovery of the bodies highlights escalating violence in the Pataz region, as illegal mining gangs clash with corporate security forces despite a state of emergency.

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Overview

  • The bodies of 13 security guards abducted from the La Poderosa gold mine on April 26 were recovered on May 4, 2025, according to the mining company.
  • La Poderosa attributes the abduction and killings to illegal miners linked to criminal gangs vying for control of the Pataz region's lucrative resources.
  • Since operations began in 1980, 39 workers at La Poderosa have been killed in violent attacks, including a December 2023 explosives assault that left nine dead and 15 injured.
  • Peru's Interior Ministry has deployed organized crime investigators with authorization to use firearms, as the state of emergency declared in Pataz has failed to curb the violence.
  • Families of the victims are demanding justice, while the broader issue of illegal mining and weak regulation continues to fuel instability in one of the world’s largest gold-producing nations.