The Conflict Over Gold in Buritica

Buritica, a small town in the Andes, is at the center of a fierce battle for gold, primarily involving the Zijin Mining Group, a Chinese state-controlled company, and the Gulf Clan, Colombia's most powerful drug trafficking organization. The Zijin mine, recognized as the richest in Colombia, has faced significant incursions from rival miners, leading to violent confrontations. These miners, aided by the Gulf Clan, have successfully occupied two-thirds of the mine, stealing gold worth approximately $200 million in 2023 alone. The underground conflict has become likened to trench warfare, highlighting the extreme measures both sides employ in their fight over resources beneath the surface of the mountains in Buritica.