Operational Context and Enforcement Action
On October 16, 2025, the Unified Command of Pataz, composed of the Armed Forces and the National Police of Peru (PNP), executed Operation “Atoq” against illegal mining networks in the Vijus annex, district of Pataz, region of La Libertad. Acting under the current state of emergency, the intervention resulted in the seizure of materials valued at S/ 628,900 and the dismantling of a criminal logistics hub dedicated to illicit mineral extraction and processing. The coordinated action was led by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior as part of Peru’s expanded strategy to restore state control in high-risk mining zones.
Details of the Seizure and Institutional Coordination
The operation was carried out with the participation of SUCAMEC, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT). Authorities dismantled a clandestine gold-processing facility, confiscating 20 artisanal mills, 4 electric generators, 4 water pumps, 19 gas cylinders, 2 gold burners, 2 electronic scales, 4 motorcycles, 120 sacks of auriferous material, 800 sacks of tailings, 3 kilos of mercury, and 60 kilos of borax, among other inputs. Nine suspects allegedly involved in the illegal operation were detained and placed under judicial investigation. Officials emphasized that the dismantled network was part of a larger structure financing organized crime and environmental degradation in the northern Andes.
Strategic Outlook and Government Commitment
Operation “Atoq” forms part of the State’s comprehensive strategy to combat illegal mining, which combines enforcement, intelligence, and environmental restoration efforts across the Pataz corridor. The Ministry of Defense reaffirmed its commitment to protect national security, preserve ecosystems, and uphold the rule of law in one of Peru’s most affected regions. Analysts note that while such operations disrupt criminal economies in the short term, sustained impact will depend on long-term territorial governance, formalization incentives, and community-level alternatives that reduce local dependence on illicit gold extraction.