The organization SOS Orinoco has described the alleged fight of the Venezuelan regime against illegal mining, particularly in the state of Amazonas, as a “farce.” On social media, the NGO highlighted that military operations supposedly aimed at countering illegal mining are largely propaganda acts designed to enhance the government’s image, while in practice, the mines continue to expand under the control of miners with the approval of the military forces.

In the Cárida sector of the Amazonas state, a concerning situation has been reported: a gold extraction mine is operating with at least 123 machines, for which the military reportedly charges miners up to 16 grams of gold per week. According to SOS Orinoco, this illegal mine’s area has expanded by 13 hectares between July and September 2024, now accommodating around 1,200 people.

Since 1989, mining has been prohibited in Amazonas, with exceptions only in certain areas controlled in the northern state of Bolívar, according to the report Illegal Gold Mining: Impacts on Human Rights and Biodiversity in the Amazon. However, of the 41 protected areas under the special regime (Abrae), 30 are affected by illegal mining, violating the regulations of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

SOS Orinoco asserts that the Venezuelan regime’s approach lacks a genuine agenda for environmental protection or respect for biodiversity. It notes that military operations in areas like Amazonas and Bolívar have only led to confrontations with miners and indigenous communities, resulting in numerous human rights violations and environmental damage. Military operations —Roraima 2022, Autana 2023, and Neblina 2024— implemented by the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), are, according to the NGO, more focused on creating media spectacles than on effectively eradicating illegal mining.

Additionally, SOS Orinoco claims there is no real effort to identify those responsible for the lucrative illegal mining business, which allegedly involves high-ranking officials and individuals close to the regime. According to estimates, between 70% and 90% of the gold extracted from these mines leaves the country illegally, facilitated by a network of corruption that does not generate tax revenue but instead benefits those who control the trade.

The situation has endangered the indigenous communities of the Venezuelan Amazon, whose territorial rights are being violated by the invasion of miners and armed groups. The lack of state protection has compelled some communities to form their own self-defense groups. Between 2016 and 2023, 28 deaths or disappearances of Indigenous people have been recorded in the context of mining conflicts, reflecting the violence and neglect faced by these communities.

SOS Orinoco’s denunciation highlights the devastating impact of illegal mining on the environment and local communities while questioning the true intentions of the government in its fight against this illicit activity.