Eleven Asians detained in Bolivian operation targeting illegal mining

Bolivian authorities detained 18 people, including 11 people apparently from China, during an operation against illegal mining in the rural community of Lacatía in the La Paz department. Seven Bolivian nationals were also detained.

The operation took place in the municipality of Sorata, about 150 kilometers from the city of La Paz. Agents from the Special Force to Combat Environmental Crimes and officials from the mining regulator inspected a camp, the Huilachuro River and the Metalani 2 mining area.

The operation followed a request from the Buenavista mining cooperative, which holds mining rights in the area. Its members had reported that foreign citizens had entered the site. Authorities said they found mining activity under way at a point away from the camp, including an underground excavation extending about 50 meters.

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We were initially able to detain 18 people, 11 foreigners, apparently of Chinese nationality, and seven nationals.

Officials also reported fuel and a large quantity of explosives, including dynamite cartridges, detonating cord and blasting caps. Authorities were still quantifying and analyzing the material. The detainees were taken to La Paz offices of the Special Force to Combat Crime for judicial and prosecutorial proceedings.

Mining regulator Jaime Sanabria said the case showed that illegal mining had moved beyond an administrative and environmental issue to become an economic, security and governance problem. Citing statistical data and regulatory operations, he said more than 80% of mining activity in Bolivia was illegal, covering gold mining as well as traditional and large-scale operations. He said the Metalani 2 site contained modern machinery, facilities, a camp and equipment representing an investment of more than $5 million.

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Illegal mining has stopped being merely an administrative and environmental problem and has become an economic, security and governance problem.