A crowd of people has rushed to search for gold in the waters of a river in the province of Granma, after news spread about a supposed discovery of the precious metal in the area.
The Cuban opposition figure José Daniel Ferrer García shared a video on Facebook this Monday showing dozens of people of various ages gathered by the Buey River of Yao, also known as Yao River or Buey River, between Bayamo and Buey Arriba.
The images show numerous participants in the water, some sitting and others leaning over metal containers and basins, appearing to stir and examine the sediments on the bottom.
People are also seen along the banks, while others continue searching in various spots along the riverbed. The concentration extends along a stretch of the river surrounded by vegetation.
The gold rush breaks out in the Yao River, or Buey del Yao River, or simply Buey River, between Bayamo and Buey Arriba, Granma, Cuba, wrote Ferrer while sharing the recording.
The opposition member explained that the mobilization would have started after someone found gold at the site.
“Someone found gold, the news spread, and look at how the River changed”, he added.
The images depict an unusual scene due to the number of participants gathered in one area, many of whom are likely driven by economic desperation and the hope of finding, among the river’s sediments, even a small amount of gold that they can turn into cash to alleviate their needs.
The possibility of finding small particles of the metal has triggered similar episodes in various Cuban provinces, where rumors about alleged deposits have led to the mobilization of dozens of people.
However, the search and extraction of minerals in Cuba is subject to state regulations, and conducting mining activities without the necessary authorizations can lead to administrative and criminal consequences.
Cuban legislation establishes that mineral resources belong to the State and that their exploitation requires the appropriate authorizations.
The Mining Law 76 regulates these activities and, in its Article 18, states that it is the responsibility of the Council of Ministers or its Executive Committee to grant mining concessions, as noted in an .
On its part, Decree 222 of 1997, Regulation of the Mining Law, elaborates on the applicable provisions for these activities, including the procedures and obligations of the concessionaires, as outlined in .
Therefore, finding possible gold particles in a river does not automatically grant a person the right to extract or trade them on their own.
Cuban authorities have pursued illegal mining for years, especially in the eastern regions of the country.
In June 2021, it was reported that 115 individuals had been prosecuted for activities related to illegal gold mining and other minerals during 2020 and the first quarter of 2021.
The performances were mainly concentrated in Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, in areas where there were remnants of former mining operations or deposits of alluvial gold.
On that occasion, officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines explained that these activities could lead to fines, confiscation of tools and minerals, or criminal proceedings, depending on the circumstances of each case.
They also warned about the environmental damage that can be caused by illegal mining, particularly when riverbeds are altered, large amounts of sediment are removed, or polluting substances are used.
The so-called gold rush has had other striking manifestations in Cuba.
In March of this year, residents of Santiago de Cuba began scraping the wall of a house on Ateneo street, after rumors circulated that the sand used in its construction might contain small particles of gold.
The event attracted many people who came in hopes of finding metal, although it was never officially confirmed that gold existed in that structure.
In October 2023, more than 60 individuals were detained for illegal gold extraction in Ciego de Ávila, during operations related to the clandestine exploitation of mineral resources.
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