📋 Tender Overview
Operation put an end to the criminal activities of Los Topos del Oro de Pataz, seizing machinery and goods valued at almost S/ 8 million.In a major blow to illegal mining, the Peruvian National Police (PNP) dismantled the criminal gang Los Topos del Oro de Pataz, which operated in La Libertad, and managed to seize heavy machinery, explosives and other goods worth almost eight million soles.
The operation was carried out by agents of the PNPs Environmental Directorate (Dirmeamb), and led to the arrest of 37 members of this criminal group in the Los Alisos annex, in the Pataz district, in the La Libertad province of the same name.
As part of the intervention, the police personnel entered a noble material building, where they found a mine entrance, used as access to a shaft built for illegal mining activities in an area of about 100 square meters.
Various goods used for this illegal activity were also found at the site, including three tractors, two air compressors, two generator sets, a Hilux truck, as well as 12 tanks with diesel fuel.
The law enforcement officers, led by the head of the Dirmeamb, General PNP Gregorio Villalon, also found three hoses, a wooden cart, more than 3,000 gallons of diesel, 50 wheelbarrows, an electric motor and two metal cylinders with lubricating oil.
Among the seized material are also three explosive charges, 10 plastic bags with ANFO, a sieve, more than 8,600 emulsion cartridges, 5,400 assembled detonators, 10 mining carts, 50 tons of waste, among other goods.
During the operation, one of the alleged members of this dangerous criminal gang, identified as Marlon Olinder Vilchez Castro (41), presented documentation that did not match the place of the intervention, so everything found was seized.
The nearly 40 people arrested are accused of committing environmental crimes, pollution, and aggravated illegal mining, and were therefore transferred to the Chagual police station for the corresponding investigations and proceedings.
Representatives of the Public Prosecutors Office and police personnel from the Special Operations Directorate (Diroes), the Tactical Actions Subunit (Suat), the Division against Illegal Mining (Divcomin), among others, also participated in the successful operation.
With these operations, the PNP continues to work to counteract, combat, and eradicate illegal mining, as well as strike its logistics chain, in addition to strengthening the presence of the State, protecting the environment, and guaranteeing the health of the population.
