Peru Military Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mining in Amazon Reserve

Peru's military has launched 'Operation Mercury 2', a crackdown on illegal gold mining in the Amazon reserve. The operation comes seven years after the first campaign, which saw a 90% drop in mining before it grew back to surpass previous numbers.

The military attacked illegal gold mining camps deep in the jungle of Tambopata National Park, destroying large-scale equipment and boats. The alleged miners fled the scene as soldiers arrived, leaving behind women and a child who were escorted out for questioning and later released.

Gold mining has ravaged parts of the Amazon, driven by the global rise in gold prices. Since 2019, the price of gold has more than tripled, rising from an average of $1,394 an ounce to roughly $4,395 an ounce today.