Peruvian National Police's (PNP) and Armed Forces' patrols on Tuesday launched the 2019 Mercury Operation aimed at fighting illegal mining in Madre de Dios region's La Pampa area, eastern Peru.
PNP General Luis Vera explained this action will be carried out in two stages.
According to the official, the first one will last 14 days and take place in the buffer area of Tambopata National Reserve.
It will include
efforts against illegal mining and related offenses such as
drug-trafficking, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child labor exploitation, and tax evasion, among others.
The second stage —called consolidation— will last six months and enable the PNP to install itself in the area to control the activities there.
Within this framework, 1,272 PNP agents, criminology and explosive unit experts, 300 Armed Forces members, and 70 Public Ministry representatives will participate in the operation.
Ministers Carlos Moran (Interior) and Jose Huerta (Defense) will take part in these actions as well.