Wed Jan 01 05:12:25 UTC 2025: ## Illegal Mining Crisis at Colombian Gold Mine Threatens Environment and Workers’ Lives

**Buriticá, Colombia** – A massive gold mine in Buriticá, Colombia, is facing a critical crisis fueled by illegal mining operations that are causing significant environmental damage and endangering the lives of both legal and informal miners. Nearly 100 kilometers of illegal tunnels have been carved into the mountainside by informal miners associated with the Gaitanista Army of Colombia (EGC), a powerful criminal group, overlapping with the operations of the Zijin gold mine, the largest known gold deposit in South America.

The situation has escalated into underground gun battles between informal miners and Zijin security personnel. The Attorney General’s Office of Colombia has warned of “grave environmental consequences,” including the risk of a complete mountain collapse due to the thousands of poorly constructed and unstable tunnels. Illegal mining practices, which utilize mercury and explosives, are polluting the water table and destroying biodiversity in a region renowned for its rich Andean ecosystem.

Researchers have found high levels of mercury in breast milk in other Colombian regions affected by illegal mining, raising serious health concerns. While Zijin denies accusations of intentionally dumping toxic sludge, the company has filed a $500 million lawsuit against the Colombian government, claiming failure to guarantee security for its investment after losing control of over 60% of its operation.

The influx of illegal miners, many lured by high potential earnings, has also led to a rise in crime and extortion by the EGC. Miners work in perilous conditions, often facing death from tunnel collapses, asphyxiation, or drowning. Many become addicted to drugs to cope with the grueling and isolated work environment.

While Zijin blames the government for insufficient security, critics argue the company failed to conduct adequate due diligence given the known presence of the EGC in the region. Government programs aimed at formalizing illegal mining operations are underway, but challenges remain, including the need for greater government presence to combat illegal activities, and the difficulty of addressing the underlying economic factors driving people to risk their lives in these dangerous conditions. The long-term consequences of environmental damage from the illegal operations also remain a major concern.

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