Operations against illegal mining in Darién

Panamanian security forces have conducted operations against illegal mining camps located within the Darién jungle, situated along the border between Panama and Colombia. The enforcement actions involved the use of helicopters to target illicit sites, including a camp identified at the Mangle River. Upon the arrival of security forces, individuals present at the site fled the area to avoid apprehension.

The illegal mining operations have caused significant environmental damage to the region. Authorities discovered infrastructure associated with the extraction activities, specifically water pumps equipped with blue and red piping, which were being utilized to disrupt the landscape and river ecosystem.