Blow against illegal mining in Ayapel: 58 pieces of equipment worth $230 million destroyed
The National Police rendered 51 water pumps and seven classifiers unusable in an operation against illicit mining in Ayapel, Córdoba. The site produced approximately 4 kg of gold per month and allegedly financed the armed group EGC.
Operation destroys illegal mining infrastructure in Ayapel and strikes EGC finances
The National Police dismantled an illicit mining exploitation site in the village of Palotal, municipality of Ayapel, Córdoba, according to elheraldo.co. The intervention, framed within Operation Safe Land IV Córdoba as part of Operation Achilles, was carried out by the Carabineros and Environmental Protection Group of the Córdoba Police Department, in coordination with the Mobile Carabineros Squad and the Police Intelligence Section.
During the operation, 58 pieces of equipment were rendered unusable: 51 water pumps and seven classifiers used to extract and process material. The affected infrastructure would have a value close to $230 million, according to the operational report. At the site, authorities found disturbed terrain, excavations with water accumulation, and areas without vegetation cover.
According to information obtained during the operation, the site that was targeted produced approximately four kilogrammes of gold per month, with an estimated value of $1.520 billion monthly. The authorities also established that, allegedly, an extortionate charge equivalent to 15 per cent of the total extracted was imposed on that production.
This percentage would represent approximately $228 million monthly destined, allegedly, to finance the Javier Yepes Cantero sub-structure of the organised armed group EGC. The action made it possible to simultaneously affect the capacity for illegal extraction and a resource source exploited by that criminal structure.
One of the central objectives of the operation was to reduce pressure on El Cielo creek, a water source exposed to contamination, sedimentation, soil removal, and alteration of the watercourse as a result of extraction without technical or environmental controls. The intensive use of water pumps and classifiers can increase water turbidity, accelerate erosion, and modify the natural drainage systems of the area.
The operation takes on special relevance given the territory's link to the Ayapel Wetland Complex, recognised as a wetland of international importance. According to official information from the Córdoba Governorate released in 2024, within the framework of the "Save the Ciénaga de Ayapel" initiative, 3,800 hectares of deforestation and 2,600 hectares of water loss had been reported in the area.
The departmental diagnosis also identified risks associated with the presence of mercury and arsenic linked to illegal mining. In response, the authorities planned a recovery strategy valued at approximately $151.100 billion, with actions aimed at ecosystem rehabilitation, agroforestry reconversion, recovery of water dynamics, sediment removal, and bioremediation processes for soils and waters affected.
Source: Google News CO — Crime