The soldiers and police exercised their security functions for more than 4 years in the region, to neutralize the illicit income of organized and criminal armed groups.
Troops of the National Army, in development of military operations, in coordination with the National Police, the Government of Antioquia and local authorities of Western Antioquia give a favorable report of the operation Creta that neutralized the illegal exploitation of mining deposits and led to the formalization of gold mining in this subregion of the Department.
During the last four years, this operation led the soldiers and police to achieve 37 captures, to find 57 illegal mining units, which were destroyed under controlled conditions, as well as 53 electricity generators, 247 engines used for these illegal activities, 53 industrial drills and 43 granulators, and also 40 kilograms of black powder, 1297 kilograms of Indugel, 1338 kilograms of anfo, 8553 detonators and 27,962 meters of combustion wick.
In the same way, the troops protected the environment and its ecosystems, not allowing contamination of water sources due to the dumping of elements that poison rivers and fauna, and contributed to the formalization of ancestral mining.
Today the gold project in the municipality of Buriticá, which houses the largest gold mine in the country, will generate resources for the development and progress of the Department of Antioquia. This area comprises about 75.000 hectares and will be protected by the troops of the National Army and police units.
The project that was given to the community service is the result of the joint operation carried out in the region by the Military Forces. It should be noted that during the course of the operations in the region five soldiers were wounded by improvised explosive devices and more than 10 combat incidents occurred.
Source: National Army News Agency
