The national government announced on March 1 that it carried out 243 operations against illegal mining across the country during January and February of this year. These interventions led to the seizure and destruction of assets and supplies used in illegal mining, valued at approximately S/386 million.
This issue is significant as illegal mining has been linked to environmental damage and criminal activity. The government’s actions aim to recover areas affected by organizations involved in illicit gold extraction and unauthorized machinery use.
According to a summary of interdiction actions, the Madre de Dios region accounted for the largest share of seized assets, with more than S/251 million and 123 operations conducted during this period. Arequipa followed with 16 operations and over S/19 million in seized goods; Lima had seven operations also exceeding S/19 million; Huánuco reported 17 operations with more than S/16 million; and La Libertad saw 20 operations resulting in seizures worth over S/10 million.
Madre de Dios represented nearly 80 percent of interventions targeting alluvial mining, while La Libertad, Lima, and Arequipa led efforts against illegal hard-rock (filoniana) mining, collectively accounting for more than S/41 million in seized assets. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers said these actions are part of a broader executive strategy to address illicit gold extraction.
Under Legislative Decree No. 1100, authorities also ordered interdiction measures for all confiscated property. These efforts were made possible through coordinated work between the Environmental Directorate of the National Police, the Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guard of the Navy, and the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office.
The government said it will continue sustained operations to weaken illegal mining networks’ operational capacity and strengthen territorial control in regions most affected by this activity.
