Mining Murders Show Peru’s Struggles With Illegal Gold Rush
A gold miner displays a piece of gold along the Madre de Dios River near Puerto Maldonado, Peru.
Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesPeru is assigning the military with the task of regaining control of a mineral-rich area of the country’s northern highlands after 13 gold-mine workers were kidnapped and murdered.
Army troops who were previously supporting police in the province of Pataz will now take control of security, President Dina Boluarte told reporters in Lima on Monday. Mining activity in the area will be suspended for 30 days.