An operation carried out in the area of Crucitas in Cutris, San Carlos, (North Zone) by different police bodies such as the Border Police and Migration Police, among others, concluded with the arrest of a group of 7 people.

Four of the seven people detained were transferred to the Public Ministry under charges of illegal gold mining. At the site of the arrest, officers found several tools used to carry out their activities.

So far this year in Crucitas we have seen the detention of 424 illegal immigrants, out of these, 172 had to be taken to the Public Ministry to follow due process as a result of different felonies such as carrying of illegal weapons, illegal mining and drug trafficking.The exact number of gold panners is unknown, but there are many.

The Frontier Police does not have the necessary resources to control this problem. The groups have people located in different areas whose only job is to give the alert when they spot the police presence.

The area of Crucitas has suffered considerable environmental damage since 2012 as a result of a failed mining project and then the constant and growing presence of gold panners, some who are Costa Rican but the majority from Nicaragua.

The Ministry of Environment estimates that gold panners could have taken as much as $1.5 million in gold so far, however, this number is still being reviewed. An ounce of gold is valued at an average price of $1,250 (December New York market price).