A week after being abducted by armed assailants near the La Poderosa gold mine in Peru’s northern Andes, thirteen security guards have been found dead in what authorities describe as a tragic consequence of escalating violence fueled by illegal mining operations.

The incident occurred in the remote province of Pataz, located in the La Libertad region a hotbed for illegal gold mining and organized crime. According to Peru’s Interior Ministry, the guards had been dispatched by Compañía Minera Poderosa to confront suspected illegal miners encroaching on company property. They were reportedly attacked and taken hostage by a group believed to be affiliated with local criminal networks.

A Region in Crisis

The mass killing prompted an immediate investigation by national police and emergency responders. The remains of the victims were located on Saturday with assistance from La Poderosa, which has faced repeated attacks by armed groups over the past decade.

“We are confronting a spiral of uncontrolled violence in the region,” said Interior Minister Walter Ortiz, who confirmed that special forces were deployed in response. “This is not an isolated crime, but a result of systematic infiltration of illegal mining mafias.”

In response to the violence, the Peruvian government had already declared a state of emergency in Pataz in March 2024, granting police and military units expanded authority to use force. However, security analysts note that enforcement has been inconsistent, and government presence in many remote mining areas remains limited.

Illegal Mining More Profitable Than Narcotics

La Libertad is among Peru’s richest gold-producing regions, but a large portion of that production now flows through unregulated and illegal channels. According to a 2023 report by Peru’s Energy and Mines Ministry, the illegal gold trade has eclipsed narcotics in profitability, drawing the attention of heavily armed criminal syndicates.

“Criminal groups have learned that gold is easier to traffic and harder to trace than drugs,” said sociologist and mining expert Mariela Vargas of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. “And in places like Pataz, they often operate with complete impunity.”

La Poderosa has reported a steady increase in attacks against its operations. In a statement released Sunday, the company revealed that 39 of its employees have been killed since the 1980s, with several more wounded or abducted. Most recently, a bombing attack in 2023 at the same site killed nine workers and injured more than 20 others.

Government Under Pressure

The Peruvian government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. “We will not allow these criminal organizations to terrorize our communities and undermine the rule of law,” President Dina Boluarte said in a televised address on Sunday.

Despite those assurances, civil society groups say the state has failed to protect workers and indigenous communities caught in the crossfire. Relatives of the deceased guards held vigils over the weekend, demanding accountability and stronger action.

“There’s no justice for the people of Pataz,” said María León, whose brother was among the victims. “We are surrounded by criminals, and the government only shows up after the killing.”

To combat illegal mining, the government has implemented partial registration programs in an attempt to bring informal miners into the legal fold. But critics argue the process is slow and overly bureaucratic, allowing criminal groups to continue operations under a veil of legitimacy.

Final Thought

Peru is the world’s sixth-largest gold producer, and mining remains the backbone of its economy. But without stronger regulation and law enforcement in rural areas, analysts fear that violence will continue to spiral.

“It’s not just a mining issue anymore,” said Colonel César García, a retired police commander. “It’s a matter of national security.”

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions or killings. Authorities are offering rewards for information leading to arrests, and investigations remain ongoing.