The Gold war in Peru It is out of control. On May 4, 2025, the tragic news of the finding of 13 lifeless bodies in the town of Pataz, north of the country, was announced. The workers, who had been kidnapped on April 26 while they fulfilled functions in the La Poderosa mine, They were found after more than a week of anguish. The massacrewhich has left the country in a state of shock, is a consequence of the climate of violence that crosses the country and the growing battle for the control of mineral resources in the region, a phenomenon fed by the illegal mining and organized crime.
He kidnapping and subsequent execution Of the 13 powerful workers, one of the main gold extraction companies in the country, occurs in an increasingly complex and dangerous context. The violence associated with illegal mining has scaled alarmingly in recent decades, with mafias that fight to take control of territories and mines. In the specific case of Patazthe area is torn between constant attacks of armed groups. The lack of effective action by the authorities has allowed this phenomenon of violence to grow without control, leaving communities and workers exposed to the threats of these criminal groups.
A International levelthe news was quickly covered by important media, which detailed the tragic events and the context of insecurity facing both the authorities and mining companies in the country. The Associated Press (AP), BBC, The Country y The Sun were some of the media that reported on The massacre in Pataz.
The coverage of Associated Press highlighted the magnitude of crime and the violence that whips the mining industry in Peru. In its report, the agency highlighted the inability of the authorities To stop violence in a key region for the Peruvian economy and cited the claim of the mining company, which accused the police of not doing enough to guarantee security.
The BBCon the other hand, he focused his coverage on the details of the kidnapping and the circumstances that surrounded the death of the workers. They highlighted the fact that the kidnappers held the 13 captive workers in a sinkhole, sending threats to their relatives for a week. In addition, the BBC He emphasized the context of violence in the region, mentioning that the attack was not an isolated event, but part of a series of incidents related to illegal mining.The British chain also highlighted the increase in these attacks in recent years and the role of criminal bands In the region.
The countryin his report, he focused on the political and social context that surrounds the crime. He highlighted the tensions between the government of Dina Boluarte and the local authorities, mentioning the initial disbelief of the government on kidnapping, which was denied after the discovery of the bodies. Emphasis was also placed on the emergency situation in the province of Patazthat since 2024 lives under the control of criminal gangs linked to illegal mining.
The Spanish media stressed the foule Effective action of security forces and the obvious Government failure to stop the expansion of mafias in the region. In addition, the role of the powerful mining company was mentioned, which has been repeatedly attacked by illegal miners, and how violence continues to increase without a blunt response.
The British media The Sun highlighted the context of “Violence without control” that is lived in the mining region of Pataz. The holder reflects the feeling of impunity that reigns in the area, where criminals act with total freedom. In its coverage, The Sun focused on the process of searching the workers and how the mining company, the powerful, expressed its frustration due to the lack of effective response of the security forces.
