In the framework of the Pedro Pascasio Martínez Operation against illegal income, several illegal mining production units of the Virgilio Peralta Arenas substructure, of the Organized Armed Group (GAO) Clan del Golfo, were destroyed.
Troops of the National Army, in military operations, with the aim of the protection of water, biodiversity and natural resources, in a coordinated work with the Carabineros group of the National Police and in assistance to early warning No.049 of 2019, found an illegal open pit mine, which had machinery for illegally mining minerals.
The military operation was carried out in the municipality of Guayabal, in rural areas of the municipality of Quibdo, Chocó, thanks to information provided by the information network, who denounced the serious environmental damage that an illegal mine was causing. The operation was immediately carried out, in which military personnel and police officers found and destroyed in controlled conditions three illegal mining production units, which were damaging more than two hectares of land.
According to information of the environmental authorities, the economic cost to restore this land again is more than 200 million pesos. For each affected hectare, more than 100 million pesos must be invested to restore the environment, and this process can take form 10 to 30 years.
During the military operation were also dismantled three dredgers, nine engines and elements used for the illegal exploitation of mining deposits. All this material would cost approximately 96 million pesos. In total, this Organized Armed Group will no longer receive more than 58 million pesos per month as a result of this illegal activity.
This mine, which caused irreparable environmental damage to fauna and flora, allowed GAO Clan del Golfo to finance its criminal activities to attack civilians and Military Forces.
During 2020, soldiers of the Seventh Division have neutralized 223 illegal mining units, 454 engines, 165 dredgers and 50 yellow machines. In the same way have generated 247 captures for this crime against the environment.
Source: National Army News Agency
