Police in Colombia have arrested the alleged most important suspect within the homicide of 13 kidnapped staff at a gold mine in neighbouring Peru.
Miguel Antonio Rodríguez Díaz, whose alias is “Cuchillo” (knife), was arrested within the metropolis of Medellin in a joint operation between the 2 international locations and Interpol, in accordance with Peru’s inside ministry and Colombian police.
The our bodies of the miners have been recovered on 4 Could from a tunnel at a mine within the Pataz district of Peru.
A lawyer for Mr Diaz has denied his involvement within the killings.
Peru is among the largest gold producers in Latin America and has seen a surge in violence from unlawful miners and organised felony gangs.
The 13 males killed in Pataz had been despatched to confront a gaggle which had attacked and occupied the mine however have been ambushed and seized as they have been making an attempt to regain management of it, Peruvian authorities stated.
Mr Diaz is suspected of allegedly ordering the storming of the mine’s entrance, with the goal of stealing gold extracted by miners, Peru’s inside ministry stated in an announcement.
He’s accused of “organised crime, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated murder”, it added.
A video posted by authorities confirmed him being detained by armed police in a busy downtown space of Medellin.
Colombian police chief Carlos Triana stated Mr Diaz was situated with the help of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement company and was topic to an Interpol crimson discover.
Peru’s inside ministry stated they anticipated Mr Diaz to be extradited to Peru within the coming days.
La Poderosa, which owns the mine the place the murders befell, beforehand stated 39 individuals with hyperlinks to the corporate have been killed by felony gangs in Pataz in whole.
This most up-to-date assault prompted Peru’s President Dina Boluarte to impose a night-time curfew in Pataz and to droop mining actions for a month. Further police and troopers have been additionally despatched to the area.
