Context and Recent Operations
On October 4, 2025, during a session of the Congressional Oversight and Audit Commission, Peru’s Defense Minister Walter Astudillo Chávez proposed the creation of a permanent military unit in Pataz (La Libertad) to reinforce ongoing operations against illegal mining and organized crime. The announcement followed a series of coordinated actions by the Armed Forces and National Police, which conducted 1,996 patrols in recent months. These efforts resulted in the detention of 56 individuals, the seizure of 50 firearms, 12,272 rounds of ammunition, and 39,186 units of explosives, and the closure of 160 illegal mine shafts, camps, and processing plants. The operations caused financial losses estimated at S/ 242 million (USD 63 million) to criminal networks engaged in illegal mining.
Coordinated Security and Institutional Response
Minister Astudillo highlighted that these results were achieved through joint operations enabled by a Supreme Decree granting extraordinary resources for integrated enforcement. The Special Joint Force—with prior experience in anti-insurgency operations in the VRAEM—underwent specialized training to intervene safely in mine shafts and underground tunnels. The defense minister reported that the operations have already led to a reduction in crime rates, the dismantling of 56 criminal gangs, and an improved perception of security among residents. Collaboration with local peasant patrols (rondas campesinas) has strengthened surveillance and intelligence, complementing the ongoing curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. imposed under the current state of emergency.
Implications for Security Policy and Regional Stability
The proposal for a permanent military presence in Pataz reflects a growing recognition of the depth and complexity of illegal mining in northern Peru. While the move aims to ensure continuous deterrence and rapid response capacity, analysts emphasize that lasting stability will depend on integrating military operations with judicial reforms, community engagement, and mining formalization strategies. The session, chaired by Congressman Elvis Vergara Mendoza and attended by General David Ojeda Parra, underscored the political momentum for reinforcing state control in the region. The challenge ahead lies in transforming short-term security gains into sustainable governance and economic recovery for communities affected by illegal mining.