Peru Police arrests suspect in gold rush massacre

Peruvian authorities on Friday, May 16, 2025, announced the arrest of the main suspect in the brutal kidnapping and murder of 13 gold miners earlier this month.

The suspect, Miguel Antonio Rodriguez Diaz, known by his alias “Cuchillo” (Spanish for “Knife”), was captured on Thursday in Medellín, Colombia, according to Peru’s Ministry of the Interior.

Diaz is accused of orchestrating the abduction and killing of the miners, whose charred remains were found in early May in the Pataz district of northern Peru.

The killings have drawn national and international attention to the escalating violence tied to illegal gold mining in the region.

Authorities believe Diaz was working in coordination with criminal armed groups involved in unlawful mining activities.

The arrest was part of a coordinated international effort involving the Peruvian National Police, Interpol, and Colombia’s National Police.

The Peruvian government stated that Diaz will face charges of organized crime, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated homicide.

Extradition proceedings are already underway to return him to Peru to face justice.

Colombia’s national police chief, General Carlos Triana, confirmed Diaz’s arrest via a post on X.

He stated that the operation was carried out with the support of the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agency.

HSI is known for its role in combating transnational criminal organizations, and their involvement highlights the international scale of the case.

According to Kevin Diaz, the suspect’s attorney, Miguel Rodriguez Diaz had been in Venezuela briefly before re-entering Colombia, where he was ultimately apprehended.

The lawyer made these remarks in an interview with Peruvian radio station RPP.

Background and Context:

The murders occurred amid a surge in violence fueled by a gold rush in Peru’s Pataz district, a remote and mineral-rich region in the country’s north.

On the day of the crime, 13 miners went missing after reportedly being kidnapped by illegal miners connected to armed criminal organizations.

Their burned corpses were later discovered near a mine owned by La Poderosa, one of the country’s major legal mining companies.

The tragedy has spotlighted the growing insecurity in Peru’s mining regions, particularly as illegal operations proliferate.

La Poderosa, the company operating the mine where the massacre took place, stated that nearly 40 individuals.

These include workers and subcontractors who have been killed in recent months by violent gangs operating in the district.

In response to the crisis, the Peruvian government has deployed military forces and established a military base in the area.

This is supposedly with the aim to restore order and counter the growing threat of armed groups exploiting the gold trade.

Officials have acknowledged that the scale and sophistication of the violence require a national-level response.

Economic and Criminal Dimensions:

Peru is one of Latin America’s largest gold producers, and mining remains a cornerstone of its economy.

However, with the soaring value of gold, illegal mining has emerged as a lucrative, yet dangerous, alternative to legitimate operations.

Government estimates suggest that illegal gold mining in Peru generates between $3 billion and $4 billion annually.

This figure surpasses the profits of traditional drug trafficking operations.

This financial incentive has led to a surge in organized criminal activity, especially in remote mining regions like Pataz.

The profits from illegal mining have enabled criminal gangs to arm themselves and exert control over vast territories, making enforcement increasingly difficult.

In recent months, several regions in Peru have been placed under a state of emergency to combat the growing influence of these groups.

Security experts warn that the situation may deteriorate further without a concerted crackdown on the illicit gold trade.

The Pataz case, with its gruesome killings and international manhunt, has become a symbol of the broader crisis engulfing the nation’s mining sector.

Looking Ahead:

Authorities in both Peru and Colombia have praised the international cooperation that led to Diaz’s capture, signaling a commitment to confronting transnational organized crime.

Diaz’s extradition and prosecution will likely serve as a test case for how Peru handles the broader fight against illegal mining and the violence it spawns.

As investigations continue and security forces remain active in Pataz, the Peruvian government reportedly faces mounting pressure to protect legitimate miners.

It also faces pressure to reclaim control of lawless regions, and disrupt the economic engines fueling organized crime.

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