Peru cracks down on illegal gold miners in Amazon

Source: AFP

PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru (AFP) – Peruvian security forces launched a massive operation this weekend to destroy illegal gold mining equipment that is damaging fragile Amazonian habitats.

Nearly 1,000 military troops and police officers, assisted by helicopters and motor boats, took part in the first day of the operation that began on Saturday and is due to last a month.

They seized 13 river dredgers pumping silt up from the riverbed and sunk, burnt or otherwise destroyed seven, the defense ministry said Sunday.

"These are no small cottage industries," Defense Minister Jaime Thorne said, pointing to destroyed Chinese-made dredgers that cost about $250,000 each


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110220/sc_afp/peruminingenvironment_20110220203107

fucking greed.