• Thirteen kidnapped workers were found dead in a Pataz gold mine in Peru.
• The region is experiencing a surge in violence linked to illegal mining activities.
• President Dina Boluarte announced a 30-day suspension of mining operations in the area.
• The mining company Poderosa has reported 39 of its workers killed in recent violence.
• Night-time curfews and increased military presence are being implemented.

Thirteen people, kidnapped from a gold mine in Peru, were found dead inside an underground shaft in the Pataz region. Their bodies were recovered by police following extensive search efforts, with the mining company Poderosa blaming the incident on illegal miners and organized crime. This tragic event highlights the escalating violence surrounding the gold rush in Pataz, where criminal elements have increasingly targeted mining operations, particularly those of Poderosa, since the organization has faced numerous attacks over the years, resulting in the deaths of 39 of its workers, according to TRT Global and CBS News.

Poderosa, a major company in the Peruvian gold mining sector, stated that the kidnapped workers had been sent to address an illegal mining encroachment but were ambushed. Reports indicate that a video circulated by criminals showed the miners being executed, accentuating the brutality of their captors, who had threatened the victims' families for ransom. Such incidents emphasize that illegal mining not only poses safety risks to workers but also endangers legal mining operations, as stated by BBC and New York Times.

In response to this crisis, President Dina Boluarte announced a one-month suspension of all mining activities in the Pataz district, alongside a night-time curfew. The government aims to restore order by deploying military forces to the area, highlighting the government's struggle against what Boluarte termed "urban terrorism" linked to illegal mining operations. Despite a long-standing state of emergency in the region, violence has persisted, as noted in statements from the company and government officials about the ongoing risks associated with illegal resource extraction, according to India Times and BBC.