Venezuela Cracks Down on Illegal Mining

Venezuela Cracks Down on Illegal Mining
Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters

Heavy Lifting
Gold deposits in Venezuela's Bolívar State have lured countless miners to the region, but many of them work outside government regulation, in dangerous conditions, running high risk of injury and even death. On Aug. 23, a dangerously unstable mine collapsed in El Callao, killing six illegal miners and injuring two others.

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