The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency on April 12 in several districts of the Cajamarca region for sixty days, aiming to restore internal order amid a rise in illegal mining and related crimes.
The measure is intended to address increasing violence and criminal activities linked to illegal mining, according to Supreme Decree No. 052-2026-PCM published in the official newspaper El Peruano. The affected areas include Encañada and Chetilla (Cajamarca province), Cachachi (Cajabamba), Sorochuco and Huasmin (Celendín), Contumazá (Contumazá province), Chalamarca (Chota), Hualgayoc, Chugur, and Bambamarca (Hualgayoc province), San Ignacio and San José de Lourdes (San Ignacio province), as well as Gregorio Pita (San Marcos).
During the emergency period, the National Police will maintain control over internal order with support from the Armed Forces. Authorities said interventions will focus on intelligence operations, crime indicators, and mapping criminal activity to effectively counter illegal mining.
The decree also restricts certain constitutional rights within the designated zones. These include limitations on inviolability of domicile, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, and personal security as outlined by Article 137 of Peru’s Constitution.
Additionally, an Operational Unified Coordination Command will be established alongside specialized committees for intelligence gathering, oversight, and strategic communication. These bodies will involve participation from state entities at all levels of government to implement integrated actions aimed at reducing crime rates and dismantling organizations connected with illegal mining.
Territorial control operations are planned along with ongoing patrols and monitoring of supplies and routes associated with illicit activities. Intelligence efforts will target identifying and neutralizing criminal structures operating in these areas.
Government officials say this intervention reaffirms their commitment “to strengthen citizen security, guarantee the rule of law,” and protect residents from threats posed by illegal mining through coordinated action across affected territories.
