In the frame of the efforts made by the National Army in the protection of natural resources, the Illegal Mining Brigade trains Colombian soldiers on the occasion of the celebration of the World Environment Day.
With the aim of raising awareness of the serious consequences of the illegal exploitation of mining deposits and communicate the important role played by the Security forces and the state institutions in the fight against this situation, personnel of the Illegal Mining Brigade conducted a Training cycle for the students of the training course No.62.
The Brigade against Illegal Mining was created in January 2016 to combat the illegal exploitation of mining deposits and support the protection of the State's strategic resources. For this reason, it carries out coordinated, joint and interagency operations that contribute to the defense of the environment and the preservation of natural resources.
Initially, the Brigade presented the main factors for which illegal mining occurs, the most hit municipalities in the country, what are the legal and administrative measures implemented and the way the National Army operates in its fight against this crime.
The use of harmful materials in extraction, deforestation, diversion of river, the use of dredges and backhoes, among others, made illegal mining to cause serious damage to the environment, including sedimentation and erosion, pollution of soil, subsoil and water sources, and in the same way, it causes irreparable damage to flora and fauna, causing even the extinction of some animals.
Second sergeant Carlos Flórez, member of the Illegal Mining Brigade, said that the training of soldiers of the future aims to disseminate the regulations that govern operations against the illegal exploitation of mining deposits, operational procedures and capabilities of the Brigade for planning and coordinating operations throughout the territory.
This illegal lucrative business that benefits just a few and hits a large part of the population has gigantic negative repercussions, so the National Army continues to conduct through Colombia its fight against illegal mining and its related crimes, since it is an institution engaged to the preservation of the environment and natural resources.
Source: National Army