Transporting gold in Peru: risks and challenges in the midst of government laxity

In a recent journalistic report presented by the program Cuarto Poder, a concerning situation regarding the transportation of gold ingots in Peru is revealed, without proper supervision by the competent authorities. This laxity in surveillance has generated a high risk for formal mining, in a context where the international price of gold has reached historic levels, incentivizing illegal miners to risk everything to transport this precious metal from extraction points to urban centers. According to the report, gold ingots are transported in caravans and trucks, with the aim of reaching airports without any setbacks for subsequent shipment abroad. This situation has recently been corroborated by the National Police of Peru, which managed to seize 45 kilograms of gold that were intended to leave the country illegally. It is concerning that, amidst this alarming reality, a recent ruling approved by Congress has paved the way for any company, regardless of its reputation or legitimacy, to transport gold on Peruvian roads. Previously, only companies with a minimum capital of S/ 15 million were authorized to carry out this task, but now the requirement has been reduced, opening the door to the participation of entities of dubious origin in this dangerous activity. Flavio Ausejo, a teacher at the PUCP School of Government, has warned that this new scenario could consolidate a business model based on informality, jeopardizing the production chain and exacerbating the issue of illegal mining in the country. Julio Corcuera, manager of the Private Security Association, has emphasized the importance of ensuring that companies responsible for this type of transport are credible and operate within a legal framework, to prevent them from inadvertently becoming accomplices to illicit activities. The Peruvian Institute of Economics has revealed that Peru leads in the export of illegal gold, followed by Colombia and Bolivia, raising serious questions about the final destination of this precious metal and its implications for the economy and security of the country. In this sense, it is crucial to ensure that the chain of extraction, production, and transportation of gold is completely legal and transparent, thereby preventing this strategic resource from fueling illegal economies and criminal activities. It is evident that formalization policies in the mining sector have faced significant obstacles and setbacks in recent years. Despite efforts to regulate mining activity and combat illegal mining, the lack of control and supervision in the transportation of gold represents a serious challenge that must be urgently addressed. The constant postponement of deadlines and regulations, as in the case of the Comprehensive Mining Formalization Registry (Reinfo), has contributed to perpetuating informality and illegality in the sector, generating a vicious cycle that benefits clandestine actors. In this context, it is imperative that the competent authorities strengthen control and oversight mechanisms in the transportation of gold, ensuring that only reputable companies committed to legality can carry out this task. Likewise, greater coordination among the various agencies responsible for ensuring security and transparency in the gold production chain is necessary to prevent the diversion of this resource towards illicit and criminal activities. The challenge of combating illegal mining and ensuring the formalization of the mining sector in Peru requires an integrated and coordinated approach involving both government authorities and private sector actors. Only through a joint and determined effort will it be possible to ensure that the country's mineral wealth is managed in a sustainable, legal, and transparent manner, contributing to the economic and social development of the nation and preventing Peruvian gold from fueling illegal economies abroad.