Ecuadorian Navy destroys nine illegal mining camps

The Ecuadorian Navy has dismantled nine illegal mining camps located in the Esmeraldas province, a region bordering Colombia. These operations, conducted in the municipalities of San Lorenzo and Eloy Alfaro, targeted illicit activities that have increasingly plagued the area.

During the operation in San Lorenzo, military personnel discovered and disabled six camps. They confiscated ten backhoe loaders, three motor pumps, and one electric generator. Additionally, an improvised shotgun was seized. In a subsequent operation in the neighboring municipality of Eloy Alfaro, three more camps were destroyed, along with five backhoe loaders, two motor pumps, an electric generator, and a sorting machine.

These actions are part of the Armed Forces' continuous efforts to combat illegal mining, disrupt the operational capabilities of associated criminal structures, and bolster security in Esmeraldas. Ecuador has intensified its operations against illegal mining, particularly following a deadly ambush in May 2025 that killed eleven soldiers in the Amazon region during an anti-mining operation.

The government has linked these attacks to groups such as the Comandos de la Frontera, dissidents of the former FARC guerrilla, and local organizations like Los Lobos. Illegal mining operations, driven by high international gold prices, not only generate significant profits for criminal groups but also cause severe environmental damage, including deforestation and mercury contamination of riverbeds.

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These actions form part of the permanent operations carried out by the Armed Forces to combat illegal mining, affect the operational and logistical capabilities of the structures linked to this illicit activity and strengthen security in Esmeraldas.