A view shows an illegal gold mining camp during a police operation to destroy illegal machinery and equipment used by wildcat miners in Madre de Dios, Peru, February 19, 2019. Picture taken February 19, 2019. Cristobal Bouroncle/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
LIMA, Dec 4 (Reuters) – A dramatic and deadly attack on a gold mine in Peru on Saturday has thrown a spotlight on illegal miners and criminal gangs targeting mines, which in recent years has left scores dead and cost billions of dollars in losses, according to industry and government officials.
Nine workers were killed and 10 others gravely injured in the latest attack where men armed with explosives raided and took hostages at a mine belonging to Poderosa (PODERC1.LM)
, one of Peru’s top gold producers. The government blamed illegal miners and criminal groups.
The attack has highlighted a growing risk for miners in the Andean nation, the world’s no. 2 copper producer and an important source of gold and silver.
“Security is now one of the main costs,” Poderosa corporate affairs manager Pablo de la Flor told Reuters after the attack. “Illegal miners and criminal groups represent a terrible alliance for…
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