At least three people were killed and seven remain missing after an armed assault on an informal gold mine in Pataz province, La Libertad, in northwestern Peru. The attack occurred about an hour before midnight on New Year’s Eve, Mayor Aldo Marino said, and authorities warn the toll could rise as more bodies are recovered. Police have arrested two suspects and prosecutors reported recovering 11 shell casings at the scene. The region has seen previous deadly clashes over informal mining amid efforts to formalize the sector.
New Year’s Eve Attack on Informal Gold Mine in Northern Peru Leaves At Least Three Dead, Seven Missing
Gold mining in Peru is a multibillion-dollar industry but has been linked to violent clashes and deadly accidents, including a fire in an Arequipa mine in May 2023 [File: Peruvian National Police via AFP]
Local officials say at least three people were killed and seven remain missing after an armed attack on an informal mining site in Pataz province, La Libertad, in northwestern Peru.
Aldo Marino, the mayor of Pataz, said in a video shared by Canal N that the assault occurred roughly an hour before midnight on New Year’s Eve. "According to information I received from the police, three people were killed at a mine entrance, and seven are missing," Marino said, adding that the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered.
Details are still emerging. Local prosecutors told Reuters that investigators recovered 11 shell casings at the scene. Police have arrested two people and an official inquiry is underway.
“Three people were killed at a mine entrance, and seven are missing,” — Aldo Marino, Mayor of Pataz
Mining company Poderosa said its security personnel heard gunfire and, on approaching the site, found three bodies. The attack took place near the town of Vijus, in a region known for gold mining, including the large Lagunas Norte mine.
Informal and small-scale mining operations have proliferated in the mountains of Pataz as local residents and criminal networks seek to profit from gold deposits. The region was the scene of another deadly incident last May, when 13 miners were killed — an event that prompted a 30-day suspension of mining activities and a night-time curfew.
Many small-scale miners operate under temporary government permits called REINFO permits. In July, the government suspended permits for roughly 50,000 small-scale miners as part of a formalization process that allowed about 30,000 to continue operating.
Peru exported approximately $15.5 billion in gold in 2024, up from $11 billion the previous year; the country’s financial watchdog estimates about 40 percent of the nation’s gold may originate from illicit sources, a factor that contributes to armed conflict around informal sites.
Authorities continue to investigate the New Year’s Eve attack as they search for the missing and track down those responsible.
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