Overview

• The remains of 13 security guards kidnapped from La Poderosa's gold mine in Pataz were recovered on May 4, over a week after their abduction.
• The victims were reportedly taken by armed informal miners linked to criminal gangs during an ambush on April 26.
• Peru's Interior Ministry has deployed special police forces and organized crime investigators to locate and apprehend those responsible.
• The Pataz region has been under a state of emergency for over two years, with escalating violence tied to illegal mining operations undermining security efforts.
• Family members of the deceased are demanding justice and accountability, highlighting systemic impunity and persistent threats in the mining sector.