National Army deals a blow worth over 438 million pesos to illegal mining in Putumayo

The military action took place in the rural area of La Selva, as part of the Ayacucho Plus Campaign Plan and in fulfillment of offensive operations, thanks to military intelligence and coordinated efforts with the National Police in prosecution proceedings. During the operation, troops raided sites dedicated to the illicit exploitation of open-pit mining deposits.

According to investigations, these illegal activities were controlled by the residual organized armed group Second Marquetalia, Border Command Structure, under the command of alias Walter Mendoza, who forcibly use the civilian population to sustain this source of illicit financing.

During the operation, five illegal mining production units were neutralized, along with a crawler backhoe, a power generator, five motor pumps, a Z-type industrial sorting machine, fuel, and more than 250 meters of hose used in this illicit activity.

This result represents a direct blow to the finances of this organized armed group, estimated at more than 438 million pesos in machinery and supplies, in addition to the interruption of an approximate monthly production of 2,700 grams of gold, equivalent to nearly 1.458 billion pesos that will no longer flow into this illegal operation.

Through these actions, the National Army reaffirms its commitment to the frontal fight against illegal mining, weakening the sources of funding for organized armed groups and contributing to the protection of the environment and the security of communities in the southern part of the country.

Source: Sixth Division Press.