In Colombia, authorities apprehended the alleged primary suspect in the gruesome murders of 13 workers who were kidnapped at a gold mine in neighboring Peru. This suspect, known as Miguel Antonio Rodríguez Díaz with the alias “Cuchillo” (Knife), was nabbed in a coordinated operation between Colombia, Peru, and Interpol, according to information from both countries’ law enforcement agencies.
The victims’ bodies were discovered on May 4th inside a tunnel at a mining site in Pataz, Peru. Mr. Díaz’s lawyer, however, denies any involvement of his client in these heinous killings.
Gold production is significant in Peru, which has witnessed an increase in violence from criminal groups. The 13 men killed in Pataz had been dispatched to reacquire control of the mine after it had been attacked and occupied by a hostile group. According to Peruvian authorities, Mr. Díaz is accused of leading the attack on the mine’s entrance, intending to steal precious gold.
He is also charged with “organized crime, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated homicide”. A video depicted his arrest by armed police in a busy area of Medellin, made possible with the support of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and under an Interpol red notice.
Peru’s interior ministry anticipates Mr. Díaz’s extradition to Peru in the forthcoming days. La Poderosa, the company owning the mine where the murders occurred, reported that 39 individuals linked to the company have fallen victim to criminal gangs in Pataz.
The severity of the attack led Peru’s President Dina Boluarte to introduce a night-time curfew in Pataz and halt mining operations for a month. To bolster security in the area, law enforcement sent additional police and military forces.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg7ekyvelpo
