Illegal mining

Brazil is employing forensic science to trace the origin of gold and combat illegal mining in the Amazon. The initiative aims to address environmental and legal challenges posed by unregulated mining activities.

Brazil uses forensic science, including gold fingerprinting at the National Institute of Criminalistics in Brasilia, to trace gold's origin and combat illegal mining in the Amazon. The method analyzes trace elements like silver and copper to determine if gold was illegally mined in protected areas, aiding law enforcement in building cases against environmental crimes.

The Andean Court of Justice has admitted a case against Peru for alleged failures to combat illegal mining, marking the first time the court will assess a member state's compliance with regional obligations on this issue. The lawsuit challenges Peru's repeated extensions of the REINFO mining formalization program, which critics argue allow illegal operations to continue under temporary legal protection, harming the Amazon environment and Indigenous communities.

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State signed an executive order in June 2026 as the administration's third attempt to stop illegal mining, which has deprived the state of billions of naira annually. The governor assumed office in 2023, and the orders remain ineffective in curbing the activity.

A Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Ansaru leader Mahmud Muhammed Usman and deputy Abubakar Abba to life imprisonment for terrorism, kidnapping, illegal mining, and other charges. Usman admitted to illegally mining precious minerals, a key part of the group's funding model.

Two Ansaru leaders pleaded guilty to 32 terrorism-related charges, including terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, and fabricating improvised explosive devices. The charges cover a range of offenses linked to terrorism and criminal activities.

The Federal Government plans to digitize the mining sector to enhance oversight of operators, strengthen regulation, and combat illegal mining and insecurity. The initiative was first reported by Premium Times Nigeria.

Nigeria's Yobe and Adamawa states have tightened security measures to curb illegal mining. The actions are linked to allegations connecting solid minerals like gold to banditry and insurgency in parts of the country.

A task force raided an illegal mining site in Taraba, arresting two individuals. The Chairman of the task force, Emmanuel Jamu, stated the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering.

A U.S. military strike in Venezuela killed Tren de Aragua gang leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero, reflecting President Donald Trump's strategic shift toward direct U.S. involvement in the war on drugs. The operation, described as a joint effort with Venezuela, targeted a key mining area in Bolivar state, where criminal groups have controlled illegal gold mines for over a decade.

A mass shooting in Johannesburg's informal settlement killed 12 and injured 15, linked to organized crime gangs exploiting police failures and poor security in impoverished areas. South Africa's president deployed the army to combat crime, while police corruption and collusion with syndicates have led to arrests of senior officers.

A mass shooting in Johannesburg's Cleveland suburb left 12 people dead and at least nine injured, with police attributing the attack to an armed gang linked to organized crime and illegal mining. The attackers, numbering at least 10, opened fire in an informal settlement before fleeing in a minibus, and no arrests have been made as investigations continue.

A gang of 10 armed suspects opened fire indiscriminately in the Jumpers informal settlement in South Africa, killing 12 people. Gauteng police are conducting a manhunt, and the attack is suspected to be linked to illegal mining.

Twelve people were killed and nine wounded in a late-night mass shooting in an informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg, carried out by multiple suspects in a minibus. Police suspect organized crime gangs linked to illegal mining or other illicit activities, though the motive remains under investigation. No arrests have been made.

Peru faces a surge in crime, including extortion and killings, ahead of its presidential runoff. Small businesses and residents report increased vulnerability, with organized crime linked to illegal mining and underfunded law enforcement exacerbating the crisis.