Thirteen miners who had been kidnapped days earlier were found dead inside a gold mine in Peru.
The victims were employed at a gold mine operated by the Peruvian company Poderosa, located in the Pataz province, north of Lima.
They had been dispatched to confront individuals engaged in illegal mining, but were captured by a criminal group attempting to seize control of the mine.
The gang held the miners hostage in a mine shaft and sent threatening messages to their families over the course of a week.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in violent attacks on mining operations in the country.
On Friday, the mining company, which has a workforce of 8,000, expressed its frustration with the police, criticizing them for failing to effectively combat illegal mining.
"The violence in the region is continuously worsening," the company stated.
According to the Peruvian outlet Diario Correo, a video allegedly filmed by the captors and shared on social media showed the miners being executed at close range. The motive behind the killings remains unclear.
Since 2020, Poderosa has faced numerous takeovers of its mining sites by illegal miners, prompting the company to halt certain operations and raising concerns for the safety of its employees and local artisanal miners.
In March, an attack by criminals linked to illegal miners in the La Ciénaga ravine area resulted in the deaths of two contractors. That same month, illegal miners also destroyed a high-voltage power tower and attempted to overrun multiple mining locations.
Poderosa stated that both the police and military had failed to maintain order and urged the government to intervene.
The company also condemned the unchecked operations of illegal mining and organized crime, accusing them of acting with "complete impunity."
Peru ranks among the world’s top gold producers, yielding over 100 tonnes annually—around 4% of global output.
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