HomeNewsBriefMexico Gold Mine Attracts Criminal Gangs
BRIEF

Mexico Gold Mine Attracts Criminal Gangs

EXTORTION / 11 NOV 2015 BY MIMI YAGOUB EN

Criminal gang the Guerreros Unidos are reportedly terrorizing a local community living near one of Mexico's biggest gold mines.

The Los Filos-El Bermejal mine -- based in the municipality of Eduardo Neri in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero -- has reportedly attracted intense attention from criminal groups looking to collect extortion payments -- known as "piso" -- from miners, reported newswire DPA.

In 2014, authorities in the nearby town of Carrizalillo said that armed men had entered the town and began extorting anyone working for or benefitting financially from the mine -- which is owned by Canadian company Goldcorp and had a revenue of $326 million last year. According to DPA, the mine is a major source of income and employment in the area. However, Milenio reports that between 2011 and September 2015, there were only two official reports of extortion.

The conflict reportedly led to an escalation in kidnappings and murders. The town mayor told Milenio that 30 percent of families were displaced as a result of violence.

SEE ALSO: Coverage of the Guerreros Unidos

Only last week, five bodies were found in mass graves near Carrizalillo. A member of the criminal gang Guerreros Unidos allegedly led locals to the site.

The police commissioner of Carrizalillo affirmed that earlier this year, Goldcorp denied that three of its workers had been kidnapped and did not offer any assistance. The workers were later found dead. Goldcorp told DPA that the incidents did not take place inside the mine site, where "there are greater security protocols." 

According to locals, the past two years have already seen the murder of a dozen people linked to the mine, DPA reported. 

InSight Crime Analysis

It is not unusual for multinational mining companies to be exploited by criminal groups across Latin America. In Mexico alone, criminal groups are allegedly involved in mining activities in five states. Guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are also known for extorting gold miners and destroying bulldozers belonging to those who do not pay the requisite tax.

SEE ALSO:  Coverage of Mining

Nor would it be surprising if the Guerreros Unidos are targeting locals in this particular conflict. The group is known for its use of extreme violence, kidnapping, and extortion. 

Ultimately, GoldCorp's case seems to be representative of the tensions that many multinationals face when operating in conflict-ridden areas -- to what degree should they distance themselves from violence that takes place outside their immediate zone of operations? Notably, while examples of multinationals openly admitting to interacting with criminal groups are rare, another Canadian mining company did precisely that earlier this year. 

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

JALISCO CARTEL / 3 MAY 2023

New sanctions in a Puerto Vallarta timeshare fraud scam show how the CJNG exploits unsuspecting tourists as an alternate source…

COLOMBIA / 24 MAR 2023

The end of a ceasefire with Colombia's largest criminal group, the AGC, is a serious body blow to hopes for…

BRAZIL / 1 FEB 2023

Brazil's president Lula is acting quickly to kick out illegal miners and loggers from the Amazon. But the right economic…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

All Eyes on Ecuador

2 JUN 2023

Our coverage of organized crime in Ecuador continues to be a valuable resource for international and local news outlets. Internationally, Reuters cited our 2022 Homicide Round-Up,…

WORK WITH US

Open Position: Social Media and Engagement Strategist

27 MAY 2023

InSight Crime is looking for a Social Media and Engagement Strategist who will be focused on maintaining and improving InSight Crime’s reputation and interaction with its audiences through publishing activities…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception

27 MAY 2023

Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.