Clan del Golfo Controls Illegal Mining Operations on Panama-Colombia Border
Panamanian forces have discovered an illegal mining camp in the Mangle River area of the Darién jungle, controlled by the Clan del Golfo, a major Colombian criminal organization. According to EFE, the Spanish news agency, this illegal gold extraction is causing significant environmental devastation and fuels an illicit economy. During an aerial reconnaissance, water pumps and colorful pipes were observed, indicating active mining operations. Individuals fled into the undergrowth upon the approach of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan) helicopters. Commissioner Héctor De Sedas Cedeño, Deputy Director General of the National Border Service (Senafront), stated that the objective is to dismantle this illegal gold mining economy, which is entirely under the control of the Clan del Golfo. Despite recent operations that led to the arrest of thirty individuals, both Panamanian and Colombian, the illicit mining activity persists. 
