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Gold overtakes drugs as source of Colombia rebel funds | Gold overtakes drugs as source of Colombia rebel funds |
(1 day later) | |
By Jeremy McDermott BBC News, Putumayo | By Jeremy McDermott BBC News, Putumayo |
A decade ago, the Colombian region of Putumayo was the main production centre for coca, the raw material for cocaine. | |
And the guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) were well placed to profit from the illegal drugs trade. | And the guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) were well placed to profit from the illegal drugs trade. |
Today, there are still small fields of bright green coca cut from the virgin jungle, but the rebels have found a more lucrative, and far safer, source of income: gold. | Today, there are still small fields of bright green coca cut from the virgin jungle, but the rebels have found a more lucrative, and far safer, source of income: gold. |
It was here the US military aid package, known as Plan Colombia, which has amounted to some $8bn (£5bn) since 1999, was concentrated. | It was here the US military aid package, known as Plan Colombia, which has amounted to some $8bn (£5bn) since 1999, was concentrated. |
Since 2000, fleets of spray planes have dropped glyphosate chemicals over the coca bushes, managing to reduce, but never eradicate, drug production. | Since 2000, fleets of spray planes have dropped glyphosate chemicals over the coca bushes, managing to reduce, but never eradicate, drug production. |
What the chemicals have done is push local farmers into the new, informal industry of gold mining. | What the chemicals have done is push local farmers into the new, informal industry of gold mining. |
"We estimate that the Farc here make 800m pesos ($450,000) a week from illegal gold mining," said Jhimmy Calvache, the acting mayor of Mocoa in Putumayo province. | |
Colombia has vast gold deposits, especially along the rivers that wash down from the Andes Mountains. | Colombia has vast gold deposits, especially along the rivers that wash down from the Andes Mountains. |
It was gold that drew the Spanish conquistadors here in the 16th Century, and now, with prices high for precious metal, gold fever has returned. | It was gold that drew the Spanish conquistadors here in the 16th Century, and now, with prices high for precious metal, gold fever has returned. |
Mechanical diggers operate along the riverbeds and banks in Putumayo, protected by heavily armed rebels who allow no access to the sites and impose huge "taxes" on production. | Mechanical diggers operate along the riverbeds and banks in Putumayo, protected by heavily armed rebels who allow no access to the sites and impose huge "taxes" on production. |
In March, police sought to send in investigators to find out how much gold was being extracted. | In March, police sought to send in investigators to find out how much gold was being extracted. |
They ran into trigger-happy guerrillas and it was decided that, without massive army support, there was no chance of making any meaningful inquiries. The operation was abandoned. | They ran into trigger-happy guerrillas and it was decided that, without massive army support, there was no chance of making any meaningful inquiries. The operation was abandoned. |
Mine operators | Mine operators |
While the illegal exploitation of gold in Putumayo is still in its infancy, it is well developed in other parts of the country. | While the illegal exploitation of gold in Putumayo is still in its infancy, it is well developed in other parts of the country. |
In the northern department of Antioquia, the Farc have established a series of extortion schemes on the gold miners, legal and illegal. | In the northern department of Antioquia, the Farc have established a series of extortion schemes on the gold miners, legal and illegal. |
For every mechanical digger that enters their territory, the rebels charge an initial "tax" of up to $3,000 and another $2,000 per piece of heavy machinery for every month of operation. | For every mechanical digger that enters their territory, the rebels charge an initial "tax" of up to $3,000 and another $2,000 per piece of heavy machinery for every month of operation. |
In the gold-rich municipality of Anori in Antioquia, authorities believe there are up to 120 diggers operating, earning the local Farc unit a monthly income of at least $240,000. There are 125 municipalities in Antioquia. | In the gold-rich municipality of Anori in Antioquia, authorities believe there are up to 120 diggers operating, earning the local Farc unit a monthly income of at least $240,000. There are 125 municipalities in Antioquia. |
"Gold is now more lucrative than coca," says Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo. | "Gold is now more lucrative than coca," says Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo. |
The guerrillas are not just extorting money but running some mining operations themselves or demanding a percentage of all production. | The guerrillas are not just extorting money but running some mining operations themselves or demanding a percentage of all production. |
The advantage of gold is that it is perfectly legal to transport and sell, unlike cocaine. | The advantage of gold is that it is perfectly legal to transport and sell, unlike cocaine. |
Indeed, legally registered mines have become a favourite acquisition for drug traffickers as well, as they are perfect vehicles for laundering money. | Indeed, legally registered mines have become a favourite acquisition for drug traffickers as well, as they are perfect vehicles for laundering money. |
The mining companies can claim any amount of gold is being extracted and then traffickers put all their money from cocaine sales through the books. | The mining companies can claim any amount of gold is being extracted and then traffickers put all their money from cocaine sales through the books. |
On condition of anonymity, a mine worker in Anori played the recording on his telephone of a call he said was from the Farc demanding payment. | On condition of anonymity, a mine worker in Anori played the recording on his telephone of a call he said was from the Farc demanding payment. |
"Don't try my patience this month," growled a low voice, "don't make me look for you, or the machines will be burnt and you may become a military objective [this is guerrilla speak for becoming a target for assassination]." | "Don't try my patience this month," growled a low voice, "don't make me look for you, or the machines will be burnt and you may become a military objective [this is guerrilla speak for becoming a target for assassination]." |
He paid, and continues paying, even during the rainy season when the rising water levels make extracting gold from the river bed almost impossible. | He paid, and continues paying, even during the rainy season when the rising water levels make extracting gold from the river bed almost impossible. |
Recruitment drive | Recruitment drive |
In Putumayo, there is clear evidence that the rebels are strengthening themselves thanks to the cash from gold. | In Putumayo, there is clear evidence that the rebels are strengthening themselves thanks to the cash from gold. |
In the remote municipality of Puerto Guzman, 400 people were called in April by the rebels to attend a political meeting, where they said they were forced to listen to Marxist doctrine. | In the remote municipality of Puerto Guzman, 400 people were called in April by the rebels to attend a political meeting, where they said they were forced to listen to Marxist doctrine. |
These meetings are increasingly common. | These meetings are increasingly common. |
In Piamonte, accessible only by canoe, the rebels run football tournaments for the young people, to hook them in and prepare them for recruitment. | In Piamonte, accessible only by canoe, the rebels run football tournaments for the young people, to hook them in and prepare them for recruitment. |
"We had a rebel incursion last month," said Piamonte local councillor Carlos Martinez, who moved his children away for fear of Farc recruitment. | "We had a rebel incursion last month," said Piamonte local councillor Carlos Martinez, who moved his children away for fear of Farc recruitment. |
"The guerrillas came into the town, to within 30 metres of the police station. The policemen did nothing, they never left their base." | "The guerrillas came into the town, to within 30 metres of the police station. The policemen did nothing, they never left their base." |
The police station is a series of bunkers connected by trenches. Resupply is done by US-supplied Blackhawk helicopters. | The police station is a series of bunkers connected by trenches. Resupply is done by US-supplied Blackhawk helicopters. |
Their landing is covered by a helicopter gunship hovering over the town, the gunner's finger never leaving the trigger of his machine gun that is capable of firing 800 rounds a minute. | Their landing is covered by a helicopter gunship hovering over the town, the gunner's finger never leaving the trigger of his machine gun that is capable of firing 800 rounds a minute. |
A young policeman offered a few words from the barrier to the base, refusing to come out or let me in. | A young policeman offered a few words from the barrier to the base, refusing to come out or let me in. |
"We don't get much co-operation from the local community here. We never leave the town," he said, glancing nervously at the high ground within sniper range. | "We don't get much co-operation from the local community here. We never leave the town," he said, glancing nervously at the high ground within sniper range. |
Putumayo used to produce up to 100 tonnes of cocaine a year. Now it produces around 40 tonnes. | Putumayo used to produce up to 100 tonnes of cocaine a year. Now it produces around 40 tonnes. |
But the shortfall in Farc revenue has been more than made up with illegal mining of gold. | But the shortfall in Farc revenue has been more than made up with illegal mining of gold. |
As Colombia's conflict enters its 49th year, the 9,000-strong rebels are looking to gold to fund new offensives against the state. | As Colombia's conflict enters its 49th year, the 9,000-strong rebels are looking to gold to fund new offensives against the state. |
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