PT Senators Urge Authorities to Combat Illegal Mining

Senators from the left-wing Labor Party (PT) urged federal and local authorities to combat illegal mining in Mexico. Their call to action comes in response to growing security concerns in the mining sector, ranging from extortion for extracted minerals to direct mineral extraction by criminal groups.

PT Senators Geovanna Bañuelos, Cecilia Pinedo, and Joel Padilla called on the Ministries of Economy (SE) and Defense (SEDENA), the Mexican Geological Survey (SGM), and the governments of all 32 states to implement measures to locate and shut down illegal mining sites and impose corresponding sanctions. Senators presented a resolution to the Senate, which has been referred to as the National Defense Committee.

One of the key proposals is for SE to develop and implement mechanisms to certify the legality of minerals and their derivatives before their exportation. Senators consider that addressing illegal mining is essential as unregulated activities can compromise the environment and well-being of communities. “Beyond the economic aspect, this practice impacts the environment and social well-being, as it ignores the minimum legal restrictions and requirements necessary for the operation of a mining project," Bañuelos noted.

The Senators’ resolution included cases where organized crime groups took over mining sites. One such case cited involved a cartel taking over a mine in San Ignacio, Sinaloa, extracting gold without environmental regulation after the company Angeles Mine Corp was denied environmental permits in 2022. 

In an interview with MBN, Gabriel Ruiz, CEO, CEO Strategos, noted that communities can benefit from regulated mining sites, as mining companies bring economic benefits for surrounding communities such as direct employment, investment in infrastructure, and education. Ruiz highlighted that while mining companies wait for permits and are law-compliant, criminal groups are not. 

Organized crime groups are drawn to illegal mining, particularly of gold and silver, due to the significant profits it generates, especially in a context where mineral prices are experiencing an upward trend. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) reported that criminal organizations are increasingly targeting critical mineral mining, posing a threat to both governments and mining companies. This trend is particularly noticeable in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, China, Peru, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India, which GI-TOC identifies as being at the highest risk levels.

“Formal companies may be waiting for authorization to participate in exploration but informal groups will not wait. By leaving mining sites at the mercy of informal groups, the government will lose governance and problems will worsen if mining territories are controlled by illegal miners,” Ruiz added.

Senators also highlighted instances of extortion and the hijacking of mining sites and facilities by organized crime, along with the theft of mineral-laden trucks. Between 2008 and 2012, the Attorney General's Office of Mexico recorded seven investigations for theft of mineral cargoes in states like Sonora, Durango, Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, and Zacatecas.

These incidents are part of a pattern where cartels use the theft of gold and silver shipments as a form of transaction with other criminal organizations and as a method to launder money obtained from drug trafficking. Senators called for urgent action to address this issue and protect the integrity of Mexico's mining industry.

Despite efforts to combat illegal mining, including increased security measures and collaboration between government agencies and mining companies, the problem persists. Senators emphasized the need for continued vigilance and decisive action to curb the influence of organized crime in the mining sector.