Coordinated Strike Against Illegal Mining
In one of the most extensive operations of the year, Peru’s National Police (PNP) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office executed Operation “Sierra Norte 2025” in the province of Celendín, Cajamarca, destroying the core infrastructure of a major criminal network engaged in illegal extraction and processing of polymetallic ores. The 17-hour intervention led to the destruction of forty-five camps, sixty-eight shafts, and heavy equipment valued at more than S/250 million. Over 6,000 tons of high-grade material containing gold, silver, and copper were seized before being sold on the black market.
Restoring Authority in the Highlands
The Ministry of the Interior emphasized that the success of the operation reflects growing inter-institutional coordination and the state’s determination to reassert control in Peru’s high-Andean mining corridors. The dismantled organization maintained its own logistics chain and financing network, illustrating how illegal mining has evolved into an industrial-scale criminal economy. The operation not only neutralized infrastructure but also disrupted the financial flows that sustained illicit extraction and money laundering in the region.
Environmental and Governance Implications
By eliminating these illegal facilities, authorities aim to curb the deforestation, soil erosion, and toxic-waste dumping that have devastated river ecosystems in Cajamarca’s highlands. Yet the long-term challenge remains: ensuring that enforcement is paired with viable livelihoods and stronger formalization mechanisms to prevent re-emergence. Sierra Norte 2025 sends a clear message—restoring the state’s licence to govern in resource-rich regions requires both decisive law enforcement and a comprehensive strategy for sustainable regional development.