At least 60 people are reported to have been detained in an operation by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) against the alleged illegal mining in El Yarey, an area in the municipality of Yateras, in the province of Guantánamo, according to a report shared this Tuesday by an official profile on Facebook.
The post, accompanied by images of the operation, quotes testimonies from members of the Social Policy group of Yateras regarding the arrests of citizens allegedly linked to activities of illegal extraction along the banks of a river in the area and at the site known as El Yarey.
According to that version, the operation is led by MININT forces from the region, with the participation of other unidentified personnel and collaborators.
The report indicates that most of the people in the images are young, although it does not specify their ages or confirm their place of residence. Their identities and individual information regarding the circumstances of the detentions have also not been disclosed.
The publication indicates that some of the detainees could face criminal proceedings for alleged soil contamination and disobedience offenses, while others would receive preventive measures, depending on their particular situation and any possible history of involvement in such activities.
Being detained does not imply guilt. The possible crimes and the announced measures are part of preliminary information disseminated by a source linked to the official version.
The same profile indicated that El Yarey was recently the scene of a violent incident involving a person allegedly connected to illegal mining practices. The citizen reportedly sustained injuries and would remain under medical care.
Illegal gold mining has been the subject of police operations and judicial proceedings in Guantánamo, particularly in the municipality of Yateras.
In September 2025, five citizens of Yateras were sentenced for soil pollution related to illegal gold mining, according to information released by the state newspaper Venceremos.
Unlike the operation currently taking place in El Yarey, that previous case had already undergone a judicial process. The reported sentences ranged from one year and six months to two years and seven months of imprisonment, according to the coverage of the case.
Illegal mining has also raised concerns about its environmental consequences in protected areas of eastern Cuba.
In July of this year, a wildfire affected approximately 600 hectares of the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, where authorities had pointed out illegal mining among the risks threatening its ecosystems, although the cause of that fire remained under investigation.
The risks of informal mining are not limited to environmental damage. In Las Tunas, a recent report warned about possible mercury poisoning related to artisanal gold extraction in Jobabo, where a specialist in Toxicology described neurological and renal effects among individuals exposed to that substance.
Mercury is used in some artisanal processes to separate gold from other materials. Handling it without proper precautions can contaminate soils and water sources, as well as pose health risks to those who come into contact with it.
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