According to the Colombian newspaper El Espectador, the Auditor.info published a note explaining that according to the Comptroller General of that country, the illegal mining exploitation of gold, sand, and clay cause a heightened negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, the agency’s report explains how this practice began, what the role of the State is, what percentage of the activity is carried out illegally, and what consequences these activities cause, among other issues.

Despite state efforts to legalize this activity, the latest report presented by the Ministry of Mines and Energy exposes that "up until April 2010, in eight years, 158 mines were legalized at a cost of US$ 7,208,934."  The effectiveness of the program "was of only 3.7%."

But, the Comptroller suggests that the attempts made to permanently eliminate illegal mining have been up to now somewhat lukewarm and that "it takes real and forceful actions, that would be materialized with the closing of illegal mines." Now, how does this illegal exploitation originate in Colombia? The agency says that "the policy is designed so that in the framework of the law only strong companies can subsist."
The problem is that "equality of rights and obligations between domestic and foreign investors, the tax incentive policy (like the exemption of VAT payments) to large enterprises and the establishment of concessions for 30 years" were the perfect breeding ground to "turn this into a private business and for success to be assured only for the entrepreneur with greater economic strength."

The report also emphasizes that "the mining areas feel abandoned by the state" and that this "creates an environment conducive to lawlessness." It is in this void state where "quickly and easily enter groups in the limits the law to issue permits, collect taxes, impose their own way of social order, punish and condemn with the force of arms and with impunity outside the Constitution and any legislation. " A kind of parallel state.

To this alarming reality it is added that "the high returns of mining attact armed groups seeking to catch the income of gold production." Colombia ignored for years the existing degree of illegality in the matter: while state studies gave a percentage of 36 points, the International Labour Organization estimated a 70% for the same period. The last mining census conducted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy found that the illegal mining rates in the country was around 63% and notes that the highest concentration outlaw exploitation occurs in small units.


Dagua River

The special report stops on the analysis of two settlements. On the one in the municipality of Buenaventura, near Dagua River Basin, it states that "the illegal exploitation of gold is undergoing a process of rapid expansion from 2008". For auditors "ethnic component, by 88% Afro-Colombians, here becomes a major factor, the absence of social programs for this population." To make matters worse not only adds that women who engage in artisanal mining are "potential victims of sexual abuse" but also the existence of "a significant increase in the levels of violence that currently have the presence of the Armed Forces Forces of Colombia (FARC)”.

In this area, the environmental damage ranges from surface water contamination to the soil being affected by the removal of plant and organic materials, problems with agriculture, and destruction of flora and fauna.

San Juan River

On the banks of this river in the department of Chocó, "illegal mining in exists since the 80s, which is why currently there are significant levels of adaptation to the informal and unregulated markets." This is because, according to the Comptroller, "anyone who has unmet basic needs can be linked to this illegal trade in order to survive."

In this area the watchdog entity also revealed the environmental problems derived from this illegal activity. It highlighted the pollution of water sources, the greenhouse gas emissions, the destruction of forests by indiscriminate logging, and loss of flora and fauna.