Peru Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mining

The Peruvian government's crackdown on illegal mining, which some link to organized crime, has triggered massive protests in the southeast town of Puerto Maldonado.

FARC Set to Exploit Venezuela 'Conflict Mineral'

Venezuela’s abundant coltan resources are exploited by several armed groups, and Colombian rebels the FARC may be the best positioned to become major players in extracting the new "conflict mineral."…

'Armed Groups Control Illegal Mines in Half of Colombia'

Colombia's National Police revealed that the FARC and BACRIMS control illegal mining operations in nearly half of the country, an indication of how important the industry has become for the…

Clash Over Illegal Mining Kills 9 in French Guiana

A clash between two gangs over illegal gold mining has killed nine in French Guiana, in an example of the violence often associated with illicit mining in the overseas French…

Mining and Crime Intersect in Colombia Gold Rush Town

With over eight million hectares in Colombia already licensed for mining projects, the municipality of Anori may indicate what lies in store for the rest of the country if the…

With Eye on Illegal Mining, Colombia Creates Environmental Crime Office

Colombia created a prosecutor's office which will deal exclusively with environmental crime. One significant question is how much energy the new office will put into investigating unlicensed mining, a source…

Colombia: 'Illegal Mining Should be Treated Like Drug Trafficking'

Colombia's mining and energy minister said unlicensed mining "should be given the same treatment as drug trafficking," due to the connections between armed groups and the mining trade.

New York Times Features Images from Colombia's Illegal Gold Mines

The New York Times photo blog features images from Choco, on Colombia's Pacific coast, where Afro-Colombian communities are menaced by armed groups who are taking control of the illicit…

PBS Show Profiles Conflict, Gold and BACRIMs in Colombia

A TV special by PBS details the threats community activists in Colombia face from armed groups, as they try to keep an industrial gold mining company from seizing their land.

Brazil May Extend Border Security Pact to Peru

Less than a week after approving a border security plan with Colombia, Brazil signaled that it would like to extend the security initiative to another partner in the…

Ecuador Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mines

Ecuador's military carried out a operation to shut down illegal goldmines in the northwest of the country, close to the border with Colombia.

InSight Map: Conflict and Colombia's Gold Rush

A report from the New York Times published Friday examines the way that gold mining in northern Colombia, particularly the department of Antioquia, is providing an extra source…