At least three killed in attack on informal miners in northern Peru

At least three people were killed in an attack on informal miners in the Pataz district of northern Peru on New Year’s Eve, local authorities and a mining company said on January 1, marking the latest violence linked to small-scale gold mining in the country.

Mining firm Poderosa said its security personnel went to the area after hearing gunshots and found three people shot dead. The company said the victims had likely entered the site illegally to extract materials, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Poderosa added that police had informed the company that no one was kidnapped or missing, contradicting earlier statements by Pataz Mayor Aldo Marino. Marino told local television that police had reported seven people missing and said information from others in the area suggested the death toll could be higher.

Local prosecutors said on social media that 11 shell casings were found at the scene and that an investigation had been launched. Poderosa said police had arrested two people.

Police did not publicly confirm the attack, and government officials were not immediately available to comment.

Pataz has become Peru’s main gold-producing region, largely due to small-scale artisanal and informal mining carried out under temporary government permits known as REINFO. Authorities say thousands of these permits are exploited by illegal miners, who police and industry sources say often work with criminal gangs to steal gold from other operations.

By Sabina Mammadli