Colombia Strikes Major Blow Against Illegal Amazon Mining

In a joint operation, Colombia and Brazil dismantled an illegal mining network in the Amazon border region, specifically in the indigenous territory of Tarapaca, on the banks of the Pure River.

The operation conducted last weekend, destroyed eight illegal mining production units, significantly disrupting the activities of the illegal armed group known as the Border Commandos.

The equipment, valued at US$5 million, would have allowed this armed group to generate profits of up to US$25 million annually. They were illegally extracting 38 kilos of gold per month.

Colombia and Brazil neutralize illegal mining in the Amazon

Yesterday, Sunday, June 1, a joint bilateral operation between the Colombian and Brazilian armies successfully neutralized a major illegal mining site in the Amazon River basin, in the border area between the two countries.

Authorities estimate the destroyed machinery and equipment had an approximate value of US$5 million. Among the items neutralized were 34 dredges, three rafts loaded with fuel, four boats, and about 37,850 liters (10,000 gallons) of fuel, all used in the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits.

Beyond the economic blow, the operation aims to mitigate the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, which includes contamination of water sources and destruction of ecosystems in one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.

“Colombia and Brazil are combining military, technological, and judicial capabilities to block the path of illicit economies threatening the Amazon,” stated Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez.

He also emphasized that the goal of these actions is not only to protect security and sovereignty but also to “defend life, water, and the rights of nature.”

In this context, authorities noted that extracting each gram of gold requires between 5 and 6 grams of mercury, a mineral hazardous to health that ends up in water sources.

¡Golpe binacional a la economía criminal en la Amazonía: $5 millones de dólares neutralizados!
No hay lugar donde no podamos llegar para proteger lo nuestro.

Colombia y Brasil desarticulan infraestructura minera ilegal de los criminales ‘Comandos de Frontera’ en una operación… pic.twitter.com/1SHDjNf6Ga

— Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez S. Orgullosamente Colombiano (@PedroSanchezCol) June 1, 2025

Starlink Antennas and the military mega-operation in the Amazon

The operation took place in one of Colombia’s most remote regions. Reaching the exact location required an 800-kilometer river journey from the Brazilian command post, followed by an aerial insertion from Colombian territory, which took approximately three hours by plane.

During the operation, authorities discovered that illegal miners were using satellite communication antennas, such as Starlink, to coordinate activities in remote areas.

This finding demonstrates how criminal groups use advanced technology to evade detection and continue their illegal operations.

In statements to the local newspaper El Tiempo, Brigadier General Edilberto Cortes explained details of the operation, highlighting the simultaneous actions of both armies as fundamental.

“If we intervene alone, the illegal miners move to the Brazilian side. The same thing happens when Brazil acts independently: the dredges and dredgers shift to Colombia. This time, we coordinated forces and achieved a joint strike,” stated the military official.

Cortes also outlined the significant profits this illegal armed group gained from gold mining. “In Leticia [capital of Colombia’s Amazonas department], a gram of gold currently sells for COP 600,000 (approximately US$145). Based on estimates, the Colombian front alone was generating about US$5 million monthly in illicit production. The total impact, including destroyed infrastructure, exceeds US$30 million,” explained the general.

Colombian Colonel Jesus Daniel Acosta, commander of the Amazon Air Group, told the same outlet that the operation was meticulously planned over months. It combined Army intelligence with satellite imagery and aerial reconnaissance by the Colombian Aerospace Force, which deployed Cessna 560 and Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft equipped with high-definition electro-optical systems.

“The intelligence was supplemented with imagery and alerts provided by authorities, which warned about the serious environmental damage in the Pure river National Natural Park area,” Colonel Acosta told El Tiempo.

¡Golpe binacional a la economía criminal en la Amazonía: $5 millones de dólares neutralizados!
No hay lugar donde no podamos llegar para proteger lo nuestro.

Colombia y Brasil desarticulan infraestructura minera ilegal de los criminales ‘Comandos de Frontera’ en una operación… pic.twitter.com/1SHDjNf6Ga

— Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez S. Orgullosamente Colombiano (@PedroSanchezCol) June 1, 2025

Related: Asteroid That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Created Colombia’s Rainforest.