Peru Declares Curfew in Pataz Following Gruesome Murder of 13 Miners

The government of Peru has imposed a curfew and halted mining activities in Pataz province after 13 kidnapped miners were brutally murdered. President Dina Boluarte announced the measures amid escalating violence from criminal gangs, highlighting the dangers facing legal mining operations in the region.

The Peruvian government has instituted a nighttime curfew in Pataz province, following the shocking murder of 13 mine workers who were abducted last week. President Dina Boluarte announced the curfew as part of broader measures to address escalating violence attributed to criminal gangs active in the area. In conjunction with the curfew, Boluarte has ordered a month-long suspension of mining operations while reinforcing police and military presence in the region.

The tragedy unfolded when the miners, employed by a subcontractor known as R&R at La Poderosa gold mine, were kidnapped on April 26. Their bodies were discovered on Sunday, leading authorities to assert that they were seized by "illegal miners colluding with criminals." The mining company reported that, to date, 39 individuals with ties to the firm have been killed at the hands of these gangs in Pataz, a mining hub situated over 800 km (500 miles) from Lima.

Despite the issuance of a state of emergency in February 2024 aimed at curbing violence in Pataz, La Poderosa noted that the situation has only deteriorated. "The spiral of uncontrolled violence in Pataz is occurring despite the declaration of a state of emergency and the presence of a large police contingent which, unfortunately, has not been able to halt the deterioration of security conditions in the area," the company stated.

The miners who were killed were reportedly attempting to confront a group that had previously attacked and occupied the mine but fell victim to an ambush. Disturbing videos leaked by the captors depicted the men bound and naked, stoking outrage among the public and spurring demands for justice. Forensic evidence indicated the miners may have been executed point-blank more than a week prior to their bodies being found, further escalating tensions in the region.

Local prosecutor Luis Guillermo Bringas has described the crisis as "a war for mining pits," marked by conflicts between illegal miners and criminals versus those who operate legally, underscoring the urgent need for intervention in a situation that continues to claim lives.