The work by the members of the Military Forces does not have a pause against crimes that hit the environment. There are 50 individuals arrested for the crime of illicit exploitation in Caldas during the year 2023.
In the East of Caldas, troops of the Infantry Battalion No.22 Batalla de Ayacucho, of the Eighth Brigade, a unit attached to the Fifth Division of Colombian National Army, arrested in flagrante delicto two people in La Linda Ravine, on the Manso River, in the village of San Diego, Municipality of Samaná, Caldas, who specialized in the illicit exploitation of gold.
The intelligence work of the Eighth Brigade with the Caldas Police led to finding and arresting the individuals while they were using elements illegally. In the operation an engine for extraction was destroyed, among other elements that would cost approximately 12 million pesos.
Arrests for illegal extraction of mining sites
With this result, it was possible to reduce the environmental impact of approximately 20 hectares of the water reserve, and it was possible to prevent environmental damage valued at approximately 400 million pesos.
It is estimated that in this illegal mining production unit about 240 grams of gold would be extracted monthly, which is equivalent to an average income per sale of 46 million pesos in the month.
The detainees were put into custody of the authorities and the material was destroyed on site.
The illegal exploitation of minerals in the East of Caldas was being carried out without the mining title stipulated in Law 685 of 2001, of the Mining Code, this illegal mine has hit not only natural resources, but the well-being and security of the families who live and legally benefit of the Samaná River.
Through unified operation, Colombian National Army will continue to attack the factors of instability that threaten the environment and natural resources of the region.
Source: Press - Eighth Brigade of Colombian National Army
