Esmeraldas, Ecuador: Ministers Defend Mining Intervention

According in Hoy.com.ec Interior Minister Jose Serrano and Security Minister Homero Arellano defended the military operation where 67 “retroescapadoras,” or earthmover used for illegal mining and extraction by small-scale miners in the San Lorenzo canton. The two ministers state that in eight months these miners were able to extract more than USD 100 million without having to pay taxes. A verbal confrontation occurred between Serrano and an assemblyman of MPD who accued the minister of being involved in illegal heavy machinery gold exploitation in Esmeraldas that was not confiscated. Before this incident, Serrano opened his bank accounts and family history for any investigation. Ministers of the villages of San Lorenzo and Eloy Alfaro were present during this operation.Read Article