The Chamber of Mines of Peru participated in the event ‘Fight against illegal mining and illicit fuel trafficking’.
The auditorium José Faustino Sánchez Carrión of Legislative Power, was used for the event ‘Fight against illegal mining and illicit fuel trafficking’. The forum was led by the Congressman Modesto Figueroa Minaya.
Dr. Carlos Castagnola, Senior Management Advisor to The Chamber of Mines of Peru, participated in this event. He is also advisor to the Committee on Culture and Cultural Heritage of the Congress of the Republic of Peru and highlighted the importance of this initiative. Likewise, he also indicated that this meeting will provide solutions to the difficult situation that is lived in that part of the country.
In this event, different authorities and representatives of important entities participated; for example, Rosa María Vásquez Hidalgo, National Superintendent of Chemicals and Controlled Goods of SUNAT; Engineer Víctor Murillo, Manager of the Regional Supervision Division of Osinergmin; and Manuel Vascones Morey, General Director of Coast Guard Captaincies of the Peruvian Navy.
Additionally, José Baella Malca, director of the Environmental Protection Department of the Peruvian Police Force, as well as many different mayors from the affected region participated in this event. Among them, Gallegos Moreno, mayor of the Province of Tambopata.
After three hours of intense work, the board discussed about several topics presented by the participants. One of the most important topics was the control of illegal fuel trade by the police and Osinergmin. It was also discussed the issue related to the monitoring of rivers, which are used by dealers to transport it in canoes through the river Inambari.
Besides, in this event about illegal mining, the implementation of two control points in La Pampa was also discussed. In that area, more than a thousand of illegal miners work between the kilometer 100 and 140 of the Interoceanic Highway in the region. Additionally, it was proposed to request the proper control of the illegal activity to the Government, since it is making wrong inspections in the legal mining area.
The Congressman Figueroa indicated that the traffickers are from Cusco and Puno, and the fuel price is two soles less than the legal market price; this is the reason it is thought the fuel is obtained from informal distributors at these two regions or from Bolivia.
During the meeting, it was stated that the traffickers could be earning between two and three million soles per day. It was also said that approximately 30 to 40 canoes with their owners sail daily. They are escorted by armed people who freely move around, because there is no river control to prevent the illegal business.
At the end of the meeting, a consensus was reached to request the implementation of two control points in the area known as La Pampa, where this illegal activity is done with greater intensity.
Besides, it comes along with crime, human trafficking and labor exploitation. It was also requested to have the next meeting in Madre de Dios, where the problem is taking place, in order to make those involved aware of the real situation in the area.
