Editor’s Note
This report details an illegal incursion involving explosives at a major emerald mine in Colombia, highlighting ongoing security challenges within the extractive sector.
An illegal incursion into the Pablo Sánchez mine, located in Quípama (Boyacá), was reported in the early hours of Thursday, December 18 by Compañías Muzo Colombia, a group of companies dedicated to emerald production.
According to information released by the company, a group of people irregularly entered the mine using explosives and hydraulic drills with the purpose of stealing emeralds.
This situation represents a significant risk to the stability of the mining infrastructure and the safety of workers present in the area.
In response to the situation, the company stated that it activated internal protocols to contain the incursion and protect its collaborators, while urgently requesting the intervention of the competent authorities in order to restore order and guarantee security in the area.
In this regard, on Wednesday, December 17, the Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoría del Pueblo) reported that it had learned of complaints related to a situation of social conflict in the emerald sector of Boyacá, linked to the presence of traditional and artisanal miners in areas where the company Esmeraldas Mining Services holds a mining title in Muzo.
According to the entity, permanent monitoring is maintained to verify possible human rights violations and prevent risk scenarios.
The Ombudsman’s Office emphasized the need to keep dialogue channels open as a basis for addressing socio-environmental conflicts and called on the community to avoid the participation of girls, boys, and pregnant women in such situations.
Furthermore, it recommended restricting the intervention of public security forces to the maximum, warning that this action should only be carried out under conditions of strict necessity and with strict respect for human rights.
The Minister of Defense, Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez, reported that this past weekend, 71 workers from the Santa Rosa emerald mine in Maripí (Boyacá), who had been kidnapped by an as yet unidentified armed group, were rescued safe and sound.
According to the minister, about 34 armed men, dressed in black and with their faces covered, violently broke into the mine, destroyed surveillance systems, and intimidated employees, forcing them to take refuge in the tunnels.
Sánchez highlighted that the rapid reaction of the Public Force allowed for the neutralization of the group, the liberation of the workers, and the capture of eight of the criminals, who were placed at the disposal of the authorities. Investigations continue to locate other accomplices of this event, facilitated by the timely action of a security guard who alerted the police.
The minister indicated that during the operation, weapons, explosives, and illegal equipment were seized, and he highlighted the importance of collaboration between citizens, public force, and the State to guarantee security in the region. Furthermore, he assured that, together with the Prosecutor’s Office, progress is being made in the process to dismantle this criminal structure.