**Tragic End: Thirteen Miners Killed in Peru Kidnapping Incident**

A bleak chapter in Peru's mining history unfolds as thirteen miners are found dead after a brutal kidnapping by a criminal gang.

Thirteen miners have tragically lost their lives inside a Peruvian gold mine after being abducted days earlier by a criminal organization. The miners were employed by Poderosa, a mining company operating in Pataz province, situated north of the capital, Lima. They were reportedly dispatched to the site to confront illegal miners but fell victim to a gang seeking control of the mine. Tragically, the gang held the miners hostage in a mine shaft while sending threatening messages to the victims' families for over a week.

The situation reflects an alarming trend, with criminal activities targeting mining operations increasing rapidly in the region. Poderosa, which employs around 8,000 individuals, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the police's inability to intervene effectively against illegal mining activities. In a statement released on Friday, the company noted, “The climate of violence continues to escalate in the region.”

Footage allegedly recorded by the kidnappers emerged on social media, suggesting that the miners were executed at close range, although the motives for their murder remain unclear. The escalation of illegal mining since 2020 has led to the abandonment of several Poderosa mining operations and raised concerns about the safety of both employees and artisanal miners.

This increase in violence is not isolated; in March, two individuals were killed in an attack near the La Ciénaga ravine, with illegal miners recently sabotaging a high-voltage power tower supplying energy to mining activities. Faced with rampant criminality and organized crime operating freely, Poderosa has called upon the government to restore order in the region. As one of the world's leading gold producers, Peru must confront the challenges posed by illegal mining, which accounts for approximately four percent of global gold production, or over 100 tonnes annually.