The high price of gold on the world market makes its illegal extraction in the rivers of the Amazon even more lucrative. On Peru's border with Ecuador, this has a drastic impact: gold from the Santiago River divides indigenous communities, increases underage drinking and the sexual exploitation of minors. An OjoPúblico team identified 17 illegal mining points along the Santiago River. Illegal miners have set up a workshop to build dredges. The area has no police or military control, while Peru accumulates the largest amount of gold of unknown origin exported to the world.

Aaron Wörz @aaronwoerz aaron@ojo-publico.com

Jonathan Hurtado @Jona1084 jonathan@ojo-publico.com

30 Marzo, 2025