Key Facts

• Thirteen miners died in a Peruvian gold mine owned by the company Poderosa.
• The miners were kidnapped several days before by a gang seeking control over the mine.
• The gang kept the miners hostage inside a mine shaft and sent threatening messages to their families.
• The mining company criticized the local police for not doing enough to stop illegal mining.
• Since 2020, illegal mining has disrupted several of Poderosa's mining operations.
• In March, two people were killed and high-voltage tower was destroyed due to these disruptions.
• The company claimed that illegal mining and organized crime operate with impunity in the area.
• Peru is one of the world's biggest gold producers, mining more than 100 tonnes of gold a year.