Army dislodges armed leaders from Venezuela's southern mining zone, NGO reports

Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) deployed troops and armed helicopters Tuesday into mineral-rich regions of southern Venezuela, aiming to expel leaders of armed gangs operating in the area, according to the NGO SOS Orinoco and a local source speaking to EFE.

The operation, for which official information is still pending, comes two months after Venezuela approved a new mining law intended to attract foreign investors to these territories, which have largely been under the control of both military forces and criminal organizations. SOS Orinoco reported verified information indicating FANB operations, including armed helicopters, targeting armed mining leaders, possibly including one known as 'Juancho'.

A local source, requesting anonymity due to security concerns, told EFE that helicopters arrived early in the morning at the Las Brisas gold deposit, the town of Las Claritas, and Kilometer 88 in Bolívar state. Gunfire was heard, causing anxiety among the population. This source identified 'Juancho' as a leader of the mining syndicate, an armed group that controls parts of Las Claritas and Kilometer 88.

SOS Orinoco noted that Las Brisas and Las Claritas contain "enormous mineral reserves" and have a history of international legal disputes. The NGO expressed concern that the operation, if focused solely on military force without a comprehensive strategy, could lead to "mass population displacement," an "aggravation of the humanitarian crisis," and "violence against innocent civilians."

The NGO stressed that stabilizing southern Venezuela requires more than just brute force. It calls for strict territorial planning, formalization of mining activities, social support, institutional and environmental restoration, and absolute transparency regarding the operation. They also demanded protection for the civilian population and a human rights-based strategy, arguing that the current "mafia model" enabling illegal extractive economies must be dismantled.