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The police in Santa Clara dismantled an illegal mining camp located at kilometer 7 on the Maleza road.
According to the official spokesperson Henry Omar Pérez, this Monday on Facebook, the operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of tools and equipment used in the extraction of gold and other minerals, including a mill.
In his publication, Pérez emphasized the risk that this type of activity poses to the safety of individuals and the environment.
Mining extraction without the necessary regulations endangers human lives and depletes natural resources, which is why efforts to prevent and combat these illegal practices have been intensified, he emphasized.
"The potential danger to human life, resulting from the lack of safety standards in these illegal operations, has been emphasized as a key factor in justifying this intervention," stated the official spokesperson, who conveniently omitted the reasons that drive people to engage in this dangerous practice as a means of generating economic resources.
The detainees face legal sanctions as investigations continue to determine the extent of the illegal operation and possible links to others involved.
The authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the protection of natural resources and the safety of the population against illegal mining.
Illegal gold extraction in Cuba has been a persistent problem for years, with numerous operations and arrests related to this activity.
Recently, authorities arrested eight people in Las Tunas who were illegally obtaining gold dust, highlighting that this practice remains a current concern.
However, the impact of illegal mining is not a new phenomenon. In December 2022, an illegal gold mine was intervened in Camagüey, where gold was being extracted without any control, affecting the environment and natural resources of the region.
At the beginning of 2023, in Ciego de Ávila, another illegally exploited deposit was detected, highlighting the persistence of the problem over time.
Further back in time, in 2021, it was reported that illegal mining might have caused a fire in the Alejandro de Humboldt Natural Park, highlighting not only the economic losses but also the ecological damage associated with this activity.
Additionally, in June of that same year, authorities reported that 115 individuals were prosecuted for engaging in illegal mining, highlighting that actions against this crime have not been sufficient to eradicate it.
The ongoing emergence of cases over the years demonstrates that the gold rush in Cuba remains a persistent issue, with economic, legal, and environmental implications that have yet to be resolved.
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