Original Title: Zijin Mining was plundered by 3.2 tons of gold by drug trafficking group, worth about 200 million US dollars
According to the Wall Street Journal, in Colombia, a drug trafficking group seized a large number of minerals of Chinese mining giants Zijin Mining. Under their leadership, illegal miners are plundering one of Latin Americas largest gold mines.
At about 700 yards of Colombias largest gold mine underground, private security personnel curled up behind the sandbag and were fighting a slim battle with a drug trafficking group.The drug trafficking group has controlled a mineral channel worth hundreds of millions of dollars and stretched for 30 miles.
The underground air is stuffy and humid, sometimes with toxicity, and the working environment is very dangerous-to resist the throwing explosives and AK-47 assault rifles in the closed passage.bullet.Two security officers were killed last year, and several of them were injured.The other side is about 2,000 illegal miners.
The plundevae is shocking.The owner of the mine and the Chinese state -owned enterprise Zijin Mining Group estimates that the company lost more than 3.2 tons of gold last year and was worth about 200 million US dollars, equivalent to 38%of the total output of the mine.An security official of Zijin Mining said, "We are losing" a war with illegal mining.Illegal mining is a slow and laborious process, and it continues without the supervision of the authorities.
In the mines of Zijin Mining and other parts of Colombia, illegal miners obtained channels, protection and equipment from the "Gulf CLAN".The "Gulf Gang" is an armed militia organization with about 7,000 people who traffick to Cocaine and immigrants along the route to the United States.The organization is a mineral channel for illegal miners to occupy Zijin Mining in exchange for some "troops".
Government officials said that in recent years, with the continuous promotion of gold prices in recent years, illegal gold mines in South America have expanded.This years gold price rose 30%to about $ 2,600 per ounce.The miners opened the muddy and excavators into the jungle, causing conflicts with the local Aboriginal people. They also used mercury to separate gold from the rocks, which contaminated some areas of Amazon Yulin in many countries.
History shows that the temptation of gold is irresistible.Some illegal miners in Colombia can minimize $ 5,000 or more gold every month. This money is equivalent to the income of corporate executives.Zijin mining managers said that about 18 illegal miners have been killed in the mines since 2019.
"High salary, but you have to bear all risks," said Erik Dubier, a 22 -year -old illegal miner."You may be trapped. There will be a stone. And fighting every day."
The InternalThe Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes) filed a $ 430 million lawsuit, accusing the Colombian authorities neglecting the duties.Zijin Mining estimates that illegal miners have controlled the company with more than 60%of the mine channels around Buritica around Buritica.Wulitica has a two -hour drive from Medalin.
As part of Chinas global access to mineral resources, the company acquired this in the hands of Mainland Gold, Canada at a price of $ 1 billion in 2020 dollars.Gold mine.Li Leizhong, the companys chief executive, said that since then, violent invasion has become a daily threat, and the government has almost no help.
Li Leizhong said that we were trying to talk to the government all year last year, but we didnt see much sincerity.The company estimates that Colombia lost its income of $ 100 million in taxation and franchise fees last year.
Daniela Gomez, deputy minister of the Ministry of Defense, said that Colombia was unable to remove these illegal miners from the "underground battlefield".She said that the government hopes to avoid violent conflicts that may endanger civilians.
Gomez said: "The companys requests are unrealistic." She said that when Zijin Mining "knows illegal mining activities" when acquiring the gold mine business.
In the past four years, illegal miners have established a huge underground network, ZijinMining engineers said that the mountain has begun to lead the simplicity channel and tunnel from about 380 ground entrances to the ground like Swiss cheese.Gulf gangs provide bed, kitchen, bathroom and security.
The Gulf Gang also provides them with sex workers, marijuana, and other drugs during a week -long work period."There is everything there," Dubier said.
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