Gold in the Darien: the complex illicit system of the Gulf Clan that Panama wants to break

Panama is seeking to dismantle a complex illicit gold mining system operated by the Clan del Golfo in the remote Darién jungle, the border region shared with Colombia. Operations involving water pumps and pipelines have been identified along the Mangle River, disrupting the natural landscape of the jungle.

The region, historically known as a major migration route, is also the site of illegal extraction economies controlled by criminal organizations. The initiative by Panamanian authorities targets these unauthorized operations to curb environmental damage and criminal enterprise in the border area.