Mining in Mexico: A history of violence

Mexican authorities created a security team tasked with protecting mining companies from organized criminal gangs in a bid to turn a corner on an apparent rise in attacks.

The first 118 mine guards graduated from a new training course, run by the federal protection service (SPF), on Monday.

“The SPF has highly trained officers that are now brought in to take care of the mining sector; we know that security in these [mining] installations is delicate and requires a high degree of specialization,” security and civil protection minister Alfonso Durazo Montaño said according to a government press release.

The unit was created following the formation of a working group aimed at improving security for mining companies, comprising security forces, state governors and the economy ministry.

Security is a key challenge for Mexico’s mining sector, with powerful criminal cartels having influence over swathes of the country, including in key mining states such as Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa and Guerrero.

Mines have been subject to a string of armed robberies, with mining groups warning of an increase in incidents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Companies have also been affected by extortion and threats to and kidnappings of workers.

INCIDENTS TIMELINE

2015

February

Workers at Torex Gold’s El Limón-Guajes asset are among 12 people reported missing following an apparent abduction, which local press reports link to criminal group La Familia.

February

Nyrstar suspends its Campo Morado primary zinc mine in Guerrero state citing security concerns, including systematic intimidation of workers.

March

Three kidnapped mine workers from the Los Filos gold mine in Guerrero state, operated at the time by Goldcorp, are found dead.

April

McEwen Mining reports an armed robbery at its El Gallo mine in Sinaloa state in which 900kg of concentrate containing around 7,000oz gold was taken.

2016

July

Agnico Eagle Mines reports an armed robbery at the La India mine in Sonora state in which a security guard suffered a bullet wound. The value of the gold stolen was never confirmed.

2018

May

Pan American Silver reduces operations at its Dolores mine in Chihuahua state in response to incidents on access roads, with press reports saying workers were subjected to threats and violence by organized criminal gangs.

2019

February

Telson Mining reports a sophisticated criminal operation in which concentrates were stolen from trucks in transit from the Campo Morado mine in Guerrero state. The theft is estimated to have cost the company US$2-3mn/y.

March

Excellon Resources uncovers a three-year criminal operation in which concentrate was stolen while in transit from the Miguel Auza plant in Zacatecas state.

The scheme is estimated to have cost the company about 10% of revenues.

November

Armed criminals steal doré bars with a value of US$6-8mn from a security truck traveling from Fresnillo’s Noche Buena mine in Sonora state.

Three security guards are injured.

2020

March

Criminals target one of Fresnillo’s Sonora state mines in an armed robbery, the Miners’ Association of Sonora (AMSAC) confirms. No further details are given.

April

An armed group steals gold-silver alloy bars from Alamos Gold’s Mulatos mine in Sonora state, before fleeing in a light aircraft.