A Research from the Environmental Research Agency (EIA) It allowed a record seizure of mercury allegedly destined for illegal mining in Peru and revealing this Thursday the logistics networks of these criminal groups, which have apparently trafficked 200 tons of mercury in the last 6 years, with connections of Mexico to Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.
Mercury traffic comes from the Mexican mines located in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, thus recognized by UNESCO, and heads towards gold mines in Bolivia, Colombia and Peruin violation of Minamata Agreement on Mercuryaccording to a report published on Thursday by the EIA, called ‘toxic tons: The greatest flow of illegal mercury towards the Amazon is exposed ‘.
According to their findings, Between April 2019 and June 2025, approximately 200 tons of mercury have been traffickedwhat has generated, according to conservative estimates, the production of at least 8,000 million dollars in illegal gold, at the current price, which exceeds $ 3,300 per ounce (28.3 grams).
(Further: Gold loses ground, but remains a strong asset).
Illegal gold mining.
EFE
With the information provided by EIA, the customs authorities of Peru seized approximately 4 tons of mercury from Mexico last June, qualified as the greatest seizure ever reported by an Amazon country.
After reaching a Historic record in the international price of gold, $ 3,500 per ouncein Amazonian countries it is estimated that between 28 % and almost 90 % of the gold produced comes from illegal activities, according to each country analyzed in the study.
(You may be interested: This Colombian lagoon could be full of gold and precious stones: where is it?).
The miners use mercury to form an amalgam with the atriferswhich then warms up to evaporate mercury and leave gold, but this rudimentary process is the main cause of mercury pollution in the Amazon, EIA warned.
His Executive Director Alexander von Bismarckhe said that “The toxic flow of mercury to the illegal gold mines in the Amazon has been presented and accepted as inevitable for too many years“, but”It’s time to challenge this status quo“That affects Amazonian communities and benefits criminals.
The price of gold remains at attractive levels, despite the falls.
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From Mexico to the Amazon
The agency has investigated and documented that the Mercury route begins in the Querétaro state (Mexico) where a few active mines produce dozens of tons of mercury every year to supply the mining demand of gold in the Amazon.
The evidence collected by EIA indicated that Some of these mines are under control of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel And, last May, some sources in the mines of Querétaro told the researchers that a new one “Mercury fever“The region has shaken since the beginning of the year for the high prices, of 330 dollars per kilo of mercury, offered by the traffickers.
(Also read: Capital leak: in five Colombian years they have bought 14,800 properties in the US.).
According to this investigation, the Mexican mercury flows to gold mines, often controlled by posters, in Bolivia, Colombia and Peruwith some transfers through the United States.
According to conservative estimates, the Mexican mercury smuggled has been used to extract at least 8,000 million dollars in illegal gold.
Amazon river
Istock
Four tons for Bolivia seized in Peru
With the information provided by EIA, the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (SUNAT) of Peru He seized a cargo of approximately 4 tons of smuggled mercury, which was bolivia destination with a logistics scale in Peru.
The cargo was transported by the shipping company Ocean Network Express (One) On a Hapag Lloyd ship, EIA’s report said.
(You may be interested: The “shines’ platinum more than gold and silver among the most desirable shelter assets).
The study raised some critical problems that must be addressed in the Sixth Conference of the Parties of the Minamata Agreement on Mercury In next November, as the grace period that allows Mercury mines to continue operating and producing primary mercury that feeds illegal gold mines worldwide.
Likewise, the lack of effective application that allows mines to remain active even if they are formally illegal or not authorized; and that artisanal and small -scale gold mining (mape) is considered a use “permitted“Mercury under the Minamata agreement.
EFE
