Police End "Gold Rush" in Santa Rosa del Peñón, Nicaragua

Nicaraguan police forcibly removed over a hundred artisanal gold miners from the Sinecapa riverbank in Santa Rosa del Peñón, ending a local "gold rush." The group, which included women and elderly individuals, was searching for gold in an area that had recently become the focus of attention following rumors of a rich gold vein discovered by a young man.

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The citizens were sent back to their homes and warned that “do not return,” because otherwise they will face other “consequences.”

The eviction, carried out on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, reportedly occurred without violence after an initial police presence was overwhelmed by the sheer number of miners. The citizens were sent back to their homes with stern warnings against returning, under threat of further "consequences." Videos circulating on social media showed police in the area, with evidence of extensive digging, including sacks of earth, numerous tunnels, and makeshift plastic shelters.

According to individuals present, the sandinista mayor of Santa Rosa del Peñón, Barney Pulido Moreno, had initially authorized the excavation. However, this permission came with the condition that a portion of the extracted material be gifted to women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The "gold fever" had spread rapidly in early July 2026, drawing people from nearby towns with tools like sacks, shovels, and picks, as they believed the riverbank, being public property, had no owner.

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Within days, the area transformed into a makeshift mining camp, with groups of ten men working in shifts to excavate tunnels, shored up with logs, day and night. Some formed partnerships to share profits, while others worked as paid laborers. Women were involved in transporting the earth to processing sites. The raw material, known as "broza," was sold to intermediaries, with prices varying based on the estimated gold content. The region of León, where Santa Rosa del Peñón is located, is known for its gold, limestone, and gypsum deposits, with British company Condor Gold holding active mining concessions in the area.

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