Overview
- Authorities report that two groups presumed to be illegal miners exchanged gunfire over control of a bocamina at the Poderosa operation in Papagayo/La Morena, Vijus, on December 31.
- The Pataz mixed provincial prosecutor’s office opened an investigation and identified the dead as Pilar Eduardo Acosta Vera, Marcelino Ramos Contreras, and Teodulio Ramos Llaury.
- Relatives called for a thorough probe and asked President José Jerí to respond, while provincial mayor Aldo Carlos Mariños urged a tougher fight against organized crime.
- The National Assembly of Regional Governments said the violence exposes shortcomings of the current administration, as Pataz remains under an emergency regime without a drop in killings.
- With Congress extending the Reinfo registry through 2026, commentators warn that criminal mining networks may seek electoral influence during this year’s votes.