Context and Key Warnings
During the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Forum at PERUMIN 37, Nicolás Zevallos, director of Public Affairs at the Institute of Criminology and Studies on Violence, highlighted the far-reaching criminal dynamics linked to illegal mining in Peru. He stressed that this activity is not only a breach of mining regulations but also a gateway for multiple illicit practices. According to Zevallos, at least 21 different criminal offenses in the Peruvian Penal Code are associated with illegal mining, including extortion, contract killings, trafficking of inputs, corruption, and money laundering.
Impact on Artisanal Miners and Policy Needs
Zevallos underlined that artisanal miners—who seek to operate legally but with limited resources—are among the first victims of these criminal networks. He argued that conflating artisanal mining with illegal mining aggravates the vulnerability of small-scale producers, who face extortion and violence without sufficient protection. To address this, he called for clear policy differentiation: artisanal mining should be supported and formalized, while illegal mining must be confronted as an organized crime problem. Such an approach, he noted, would help safeguard livelihoods while isolating criminal actors.
Regional Implications and International Dimension
The expert also warned that illegal mining is a transnational issue. He explained that illegally extracted Peruvian gold is trafficked across borders into Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador, where it is laundered and reintroduced into formal supply chains. This cross-border dimension makes illegal mining not just a national security problem but a regional one. Zevallos urged the Andean Community and neighboring governments to strengthen cooperation and enforcement, emphasizing that only coordinated regional action can contain the expansion of criminal economies tied to illicit gold flows.