Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Colombia shuts down 63 illegal mines, arrests 59 in anti-FARC raids
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/05/12/Colombia-shuts-down-63-illegal-mines-arrests-59-in-anti-FARC-raids/4431431443594/BOGOTA, May 12 (UPI) -- Colombia has arrested 59 people who were connected to illegal mining operations in the Amazon used to finance the country's rebel group.
There were 63 sites raided during Operation Anostomus near Colombia's border with Brazil and Venezuela in the Amazon. The mines were used to gather gold, tungsten and cobalt.
Among the arrested were 12 FARC guerrilla rebels, four Brazilians and a Venezuelan.
"It is the cleanest and hardest blow in more than a decade, possibly one of the biggest in history, against illegal mining," Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon said. "This operation prevented the FARC from getting its hands on 20 billion pesos [about $8 million]."