President Donald Trump promised to tackle drug trafficking and the opioid crisis. However, a recent report highlights how cuts to environmental crime programs are undermining those efforts.
Illegal gold mining is a major environmental crime and is funding transnational drug organizations. Research from the Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency Coalition shows that in certain countries, the money made from illegal gold mining exceeds that from the drug trade. This illegal trade poses a threat to the U.S. financial system and regional security, further enabling drug traffickers and other criminals. The opioid crisis, where overdoses have become a leading cause of death in the U.S., is closely tied to these issues.
Despite these alarming findings, since taking office, Trump has made significant cuts to key agencies. Top prosecutors focusing on environmental crimes at the Department of Justice were reassigned, and staffing reductions hit the Department of Homeland Security’s unit combating illegal mining. Furthermore, funding for initiatives aimed at addressing illegal gold mining was slashed.
One notable casualty of these cuts was the dismantling of U.S. Agency for International Development programs in Peru. These programs sought to collaborate with local communities to mitigate the impacts of illegal mining. Without such efforts, criminals often escape punishment, allowing illegal mining to flourish.
Melina Risso, a research director at the Igarapé Institute in Brazil, points out the absurdity of undermining enforcement systems meant to combat organized crime. “It seems like a legalization of the illegal,” she says.
While the White House did not comment on this report, a State Department spokesperson acknowledged that illegal gold mining has direct repercussions for the U.S. It fuels drug and human trafficking, with the illegal gold economy becoming one of the fastest-growing illicit economies in the Americas.
In regions like the Amazon rainforest, illegal gold mining has surged by 18% annually. Julia Yansura, a program director for environmental crime, highlights how the low-risk, high-reward nature of these operations attracts criminals.
The illegal gold trade generates around $8 billion annually in Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador alone. Notorious crime syndicates like Los Choneros and Tren de Aragua engage deeply in this industry, creating substantial daily profits and controlling mining areas.
The methods of extraction, involving mercury, devastate local ecosystems and severely pollute water sources. This process affects communities, particularly Indigenous groups that rely heavily on fish for nutrition. Studies have documented various health issues linked to mercury exposure, including neurological problems in children and heightened malnutrition.
In Brazil, a public health emergency was declared for the Yanomami Indigenous peoples due to the detrimental effects of illegal mining. Dubán Canal from the Amazon Alliance describes these impacts as “absolutely devastating,” pushing deeper into the forests and threatening the very survival of Indigenous communities.
The market for illegally mined gold is substantial, with the U.S. being a major consumer alongside China and India. Criminal organizations have become increasingly ingenious in finding ways to smuggle these precious metals into the United States, using techniques such as concealing gold in jewelry or as clothing accessories.
According to the State Department, illegally mined gold funds money laundering schemes that pose threats to U.S. financial systems. A significant gap in current laws allows criminal organizations to clean their profits, making tracing illicit funds difficult.
In March, the Trump administration rolled back measures meant to improve transparency among companies tied to the gold market, undermining anti-money laundering efforts. Experts like Yansura argue that restoring former policies could significantly combat illegal gold mining. Proposals include enhancing port monitoring, tracking ownership of aircraft used for transport, and increasing funding for environmental protection programs.
In the face of these challenges, regional leaders from eight Amazonian countries recently convened to address environmental crimes. While they made commitments to combat issues like mercury use and enhance cooperation, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on genuine follow-through.
In a world where the consequences of illegal mining are not confined to the regions affected, global cooperation is essential. As highlighted by political figures in the U.S., the human and environmental costs of illegal gold mining require prompt action to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
For further insights on illegal mining’s effects, refer to studies and reports from credible sources like the Organization of American States and the Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency Coalition.
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