Latest news with #mercury
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Smuggled mercury shows extent of illegal Amazon gold mining
The seizure of one of the largest known mercury shipments in history, moving from mines in Mexico to illegal Amazon gold mining zones, exposes the wide use of the toxic metal in the rain forest, according to authorities. Peru's customs agency, SUNAT, found 4 metric tons of illegal mercury in Lima's port district of Callao, according to a report by the nonprofit Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA). "This SUNAT intervention has prevented this chemical from having a serious impact on people's health and the environment, as can be seen in several areas of the country devastated by the illegal use of mercury and illicit activities," SUNAT said in a statement. The vast transnational smuggling operation trafficked some 200 tons of elemental mercury over more than six years, an amount that would have contributed to the production of at least $8 billion worth of illegal gold, according to the EIA, which worked alongside SUNAT to uncover the network. "The toxic flow of mercury to the illegal gold mines in the Amazon has been presented and accepted as inevitable for too many years," said Alexander von Bismarck, Executive Director at EIA U.S. Brazilian Environmental Agency (IBAMA) agents participate in a Brazilian government enforcement operation to combat illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest on Munduruku Indigenous land, in the municipality of Jacareacanga, Para state, Brazil, on Nov. 12, 2024. | REUTERS "It is time to challenge this status quo that affects Amazonian communities and benefits organized criminals," he said. The scheme spanned at least four countries — Mexico, the country of origin, Peru, the destination for three-quarters of the mercury, Colombia and Bolivia — between April 2019 and June 2025. All four are signatories of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to protect human health by reducing and ultimately eliminating mercury use, and the undeclared shipments were in direct violation of the convention. Record gold prices have encouraged a flourishing illegal mining trade that damages local nature and biodiversity and is raising significant health concerns. With the price of gold surpassing $3,000 per ounce, mercury, which is used to extract the gold in illegal mines in the Amazon, is worth four times as much. A highly dangerous neurotoxin, mercury is one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It enters the food chain, bioaccumulates and causes developmental delays in children, cognitive impairment and multiple other serious health problems for Amazonian communities. "To extract gold, rivers and streams are polluted, and territories are plundered," said Julio Cusurichi, an Indigenous leader and Goldman Environmental Prize winner, in Madre de Dios, the Peruvian Amazon region most heavily impacted by illegal gold mining. "Mercury pollution even affects fish, which is the daily diet of our Indigenous communities. Now the contamination is reaching all of us who live in the Madre de Dios region, Indigenous or not," he said. Mercury air pollution in parts of Madre de Dios is more than 5.5 times higher than the WHO's safety levels. The investigation uncovered a network involving organized crime groups allegedly centered around a mercury trader identified as Juan José Zamorano Davila, based in Querétaro state, Mexico, according to the EIA and Peruvian authorities. Zamorano allegedly oversaw procurement, concealment, export logistics and financial structuring of the shipments, according to the EIA. A law enforcement agent holds a bottle of mercury used in gold panning during an operation against illegal gold mining at the Urupadi National Forest Park in the Amazon rainforest, in the municipality of Maues, Amazonas state, Brazil, in 2023. | REUTERS The route begins in Querétaro, where a few active mercury mines, some located within the Sierra Gorda UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is considered a unique ecosystem of cultural significance, produce dozens of tonnes of mercury each year to feed gold mining demand in the Amazon. Evidence collected by EIA indicated some of the mines are controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico most powerful illegal drug networks. In May, sources from the Querétaro mines told investigators that "mercury fever" has hit the region this year, triggered by record prices of about $330 per kilogram offered by mercury traffickers as a consequence of skyrocketing gold prices. Once smuggled into South America from the Mexican port of Manzanillo, the mercury was moved through ports and companies with alleged ties to organized crime and resold in illegal gold mining zones, including territories controlled by armed criminal groups like the Clan de Golfo (AGC) and the ELN in Colombia. The mercury found in the port of Callao was hidden in sacks of gravel and falsely declared as crushed stone or decorative rocks to bypass customs. Invoices for the shipments were inflated and misclassified to disguise their contents. Each 20-ton container was declared at $11,000 (about 20 times higher than legitimate gravel prices) despite actually containing mercury worth up to $2 million. The container intercepted in Peru tested positive for mercury vapor levels 480 times above safety thresholds. The shipment was marked as destined for Bolivia, passed through the port of Callao and, the investigation showed, was diverted through Peru's southern city of Arequipa, a distribution hub for destinations such as Madre de Dios. Similar shipments were traced to Colombia as well as Bolivia, often routed through the U.S. port of Houston, creating a potential jurisdiction issue in the United States. The routes underscore the global nature of the trafficking operation and also bring attention to limited inspection in transshipment scenarios, the report said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists stunned by 'lethal' discovery made while studying popular swamp: 'We wonder what else is being affected'
Scientists stunned by 'lethal' discovery made while studying popular swamp: 'We wonder what else is being affected' Although swamps have garnered a reputation for being formidable locations with dangerous species and spooky visuals, they play a pivotal role in an ecosystem. That is why a recent discovery made in some swamps of Georgia and South Carolina has researchers worried. What's happening? According to a recent study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, elevated levels of mercury have been detected in several swamps throughout the Deep South. The discovery was made when a team of researchers was conducting a study on alligators in the region. They selected Jekyll Island and the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia as well as the Yawkey Wildlife Center in South Carolina as their primary locations. While speaking to UGA Today, Kristen Zemaitis, lead author of the study and a graduate of the University of Georgia, noted the importance of alligators. "Alligators are very ancient creatures, and we can look at them in these areas as an indicator of what else might be happening in the ecosystem," Zemaitis said. "Studying them can relate to many different things in the food web." This is why the team of researchers was stunned when they began measuring mercury levels at the three research sites. Mercury exists naturally in the Earth's crust and can be released into the environment through natural processes. However, as noted in the study, mercury is a "potent neurotoxin, commonly assessed in contaminant body burdens." Why are elevated levels of mercury in swamps important? Oftentimes, human activities such as industrial pollution and urbanization can result in regional "hot spots" with elevated mercury concentrations. With this in mind, the research team spent several months analyzing blood samples from more than 100 alligators across the Okefenokee Swamp, Jekyll Island, and the Yawkey Wildlife Center. Their findings revealed that mercury concentrations were around eight times higher in alligators inhabiting the Okefenokee Swamp than at any of the other sites. "That's one of the results from the study that was most striking to me," said Jeb Byers, co-author of the study. "Mercury is a neurotoxin that is very lethal to organisms. If it builds up, it moves through the food web and creates the perfect storm. That's what we have in the Okefenokee," added Byers, a UGA professor. The researchers determined that mercury is perhaps moving up through the food chain at a faster rate than previously thought. When mercury enters marine environments from various sources, it can be absorbed by small organisms in the food chain. As larger species eat these smaller organisms, it can lead to higher levels in larger predators, such as alligators. What's being done about these high levels of mercury? High levels of mercury can prove to be problematic for local communities that rely on fishing industries for their food supply. "Mercury contamination can be a high concern for the people who can be consuming a lot of fish or game species from the rivers, swamps or oceans that have high mercury," Zemaitis noted. While the study has revealed alarming results, Zemaitis said that this can potentially help us learn more about which species are most affected in our environment. "Now that we know this about one of the apex predators in these systems, we wonder what else is being affected?" added Zemaitis. The researcher explained that further studies could better explain where the excess mercury levels are coming from and how prominent the neurotoxin is in the ecosystem. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Peru seizes record 4-ton mercury shipment in fight against illegal gold mining
Peruvian customs officials have seized a record-breaking shipment of illegal mercury, exposing a cross-border smuggling network that is fueling one of the Amazon's most destructive criminal economies: illicit gold mining. The 4-ton haul — the largest mercury seizure ever made in an Amazon country and one of the world's largest — was discovered in June at the port of Callao, hidden inside gravel-filled bags on a cargo ship bound for Bolivia. Though labeled as crushed stone, the shipment was flagged by customs agents based on international intelligence sharing. 'This crushed stone was laced with mercury,' said Jorge Gallo Alvarado, head of customs enforcement at SUNAT, Peru's tax and customs agency. 'It's a restricted substance because it's used in illegal alluvial mining.' The container, which originated in Mexico, was singled out for inspection by SUNAT's risk analysis team. U.S. specialists later confirmed the presence of mercury embedded in the gravel — a tactic increasingly used to avoid detection at ports. The seized goods are valued at roughly $500,000, SUNAT said. High-value illicit trade Authorities say the bust marks a turning point in efforts to dismantle the supply chains behind the Amazon's illicit gold trade. Mercury, a powerful neurotoxin banned or tightly restricted in many countries, remains essential to the process used by illegal miners across the rainforest to extract gold from river sediment. The method is simple but dangerous: miners mix mercury with gold particles to form an amalgam, then burn it off, releasing toxic vapor into the air. The leftover mercury often flows into rivers, where it transforms into methylmercury — its most dangerous form — and builds up in fish and aquatic life. 'This is a very important seizure,' said Luis Fernandez, a research professor and mercury expert at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, who traveled to Lima to assess the find. 'We don't often see mercury seizures at this scale, especially not in transit through formal customs points," he said. Fernandez estimated the mercury could have been used to produce roughly 1,600 kilograms (3,527 pounds) of gold — worth more than $172 million at current prices. 'This isn't subsistence mining,' he said. 'It's organized, high-value illicit trade with serious environmental and public health consequences.' A 'gold-mercury-drug trifecta' In Peru's Madre de Dios region, an epicenter of illegal mining, mercury contamination has been detected in drinking water, fish and even breast milk. Long-term exposure to methylmercury can cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system, particularly in children and pregnant women. Indigenous and riverine communities that rely on fish for food are especially vulnerable. Peruvian authorities say much of the mercury entering the country is smuggled from Mexico, where it's mined in central states such as Querétaro. Prices have surged in recent years due to booming global demand for gold, reaching as high as $330 per kilogram of mercury — and more than $3,500 per ounce of gold — earlier this year. Some of the mercury seized in June is believed to have originated in small, artisanal mines inside a UNESCO ‑protected biosphere reserve. While the Environmental Investigation Agency, a nonprofit watchdog that investigates environmental crime, has documented that at least 30 tons of mercury have been trafficked annually from Mexico to countries like Peru and Colombia by a single criminal network, the real volume is likely higher. Soaring gold prices and a 400% markup on mercury in the Amazon compared to Mexico have made smuggling increasingly lucrative. Seizures and monitoring suggest flows rose to an estimated 56 tons in 2024, with further increases expected this year. Colombia remains one of the highest per capita emitters of mercury worldwide, with total annual releases reaching up to 150 tons, much of it tied to illegal gold mining. EIA's latest investigation, released in tandem with Peru's announcement, describes a growing 'gold-mercury-drug trifecta' linking illegal mining to transnational crime and environmental degradation. The group's investigators documented how organized criminal groups — including Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel — are now involved in mercury mining and trafficking. 'Until mercury mines are no longer in operation, traffickers will leave no stone unturned to smuggle the metal,' the report states. Growing calls to close mercury mines Traffickers often disguise mercury shipments with false paperwork and front companies, allowing them to slip through customs. Once across the border, the metal is sold to illegal mining camps — often in protected forests or Indigenous territories — where it becomes almost impossible to trace. In Colombia, security sources say armed groups such as the National Liberation Army and the Gulf Clan play a central role in the mercury-for-gold trade. Similar dynamics have been reported in Brazil and Bolivia, where enforcement is weak and black-market demand is high. Although Peru ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013, enforcement has struggled to keep up with the pace and adaptability of trafficking networks. 'These networks are agile,' Fernandez said. 'As gold prices rise, they adapt quickly. Customs authorities need tools, training, and resources to keep pace.' Adam Dolezal, extractive industries campaigner at EIA, said the seizure shows what is possible when customs systems are properly resourced and coordinated — but warned that enforcement alone won't stop the trade. 'Unless mercury production is shut down at the source, this toxic trade will continue,' Dolezal said. Calls are growing to close remaining mercury mines in Mexico and reform global controls on the metal. The issue is expected to take center stage at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention later this year, where advocates hope to eliminate legal loopholes that allow mercury to be traded for small-scale mining. ____ ____ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Washington Post
Peru seizes record 4-ton mercury shipment in fight against illegal gold mining
BOGOTA, Colombia — Peruvian customs officials have seized a record-breaking shipment of illegal mercury , exposing a cross-border smuggling network that is fueling one of the Amazon's most destructive criminal economies: illicit gold mining. The 4-ton haul — the largest mercury seizure ever made in an Amazon country and one of the world's largest — was discovered in June at the port of Callao, hidden inside gravel-filled bags on a cargo ship bound for Bolivia. Though labeled as crushed stone, the shipment was flagged by customs agents based on international intelligence sharing.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Associated Press
Peru seizes record 4-ton mercury shipment in fight against illegal gold mining
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Peruvian customs officials have seized a record-breaking shipment of illegal mercury, exposing a cross-border smuggling network that is fueling one of the Amazon's most destructive criminal economies: illicit gold mining. The 4-ton haul — the largest mercury seizure ever made in an Amazon country and one of the world's largest — was discovered in June at the port of Callao, hidden inside gravel-filled bags on a cargo ship bound for Bolivia. Though labeled as crushed stone, the shipment was flagged by customs agents based on international intelligence sharing. 'This crushed stone was laced with mercury,' said Jorge Gallo Alvarado, head of customs enforcement at SUNAT, Peru's tax and customs agency. 'It's a restricted substance because it's used in illegal alluvial mining.' The container, which originated in Mexico, was singled out for inspection by SUNAT's risk analysis team. U.S. specialists later confirmed the presence of mercury embedded in the gravel — a tactic increasingly used to avoid detection at ports. The seized goods are valued at roughly $500,000, SUNAT said. High-value illicit trade Authorities say the bust marks a turning point in efforts to dismantle the supply chains behind the Amazon's illicit gold trade. Mercury, a powerful neurotoxin banned or tightly restricted in many countries, remains essential to the process used by illegal miners across the rainforest to extract gold from river sediment. The method is simple but dangerous: miners mix mercury with gold particles to form an amalgam, then burn it off, releasing toxic vapor into the air. The leftover mercury often flows into rivers, where it transforms into methylmercury — its most dangerous form — and builds up in fish and aquatic life. 'This is a very important seizure,' said Luis Fernandez, a research professor and mercury expert at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, who traveled to Lima to assess the find. 'We don't often see mercury seizures at this scale, especially not in transit through formal customs points,' he said. Fernandez estimated the mercury could have been used to produce roughly 1,600 kilograms (3,527 pounds) of gold — worth more than $172 million at current prices. 'This isn't subsistence mining,' he said. 'It's organized, high-value illicit trade with serious environmental and public health consequences.' A 'gold-mercury-drug trifecta' In Peru's Madre de Dios region, an epicenter of illegal mining, mercury contamination has been detected in drinking water, fish and even breast milk. Long-term exposure to methylmercury can cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system, particularly in children and pregnant women. Indigenous and riverine communities that rely on fish for food are especially vulnerable. Peruvian authorities say much of the mercury entering the country is smuggled from Mexico, where it's mined in central states such as Querétaro. Prices have surged in recent years due to booming global demand for gold, reaching as high as $330 per kilogram of mercury — and more than $3,500 per ounce of gold — earlier this year. Some of the mercury seized in June is believed to have originated in small, artisanal mines inside a UNESCO ‑protected biosphere reserve. While the Environmental Investigation Agency, a nonprofit watchdog that investigates environmental crime, has documented that at least 30 tons of mercury have been trafficked annually from Mexico to countries like Peru and Colombia by a single criminal network, the real volume is likely higher. Soaring gold prices and a 400% markup on mercury in the Amazon compared to Mexico have made smuggling increasingly lucrative. Seizures and monitoring suggest flows rose to an estimated 56 tons in 2024, with further increases expected this year. Colombia remains one of the highest per capita emitters of mercury worldwide, with total annual releases reaching up to 150 tons, much of it tied to illegal gold mining. EIA's latest investigation, released in tandem with Peru's announcement, describes a growing 'gold-mercury-drug trifecta' linking illegal mining to transnational crime and environmental degradation. The group's investigators documented how organized criminal groups — including Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel — are now involved in mercury mining and trafficking. 'Until mercury mines are no longer in operation, traffickers will leave no stone unturned to smuggle the metal,' the report states. Growing calls to close mercury mines Traffickers often disguise mercury shipments with false paperwork and front companies, allowing them to slip through customs. Once across the border, the metal is sold to illegal mining camps — often in protected forests or Indigenous territories — where it becomes almost impossible to trace. In Colombia, security sources say armed groups such as the National Liberation Army and the Gulf Clan play a central role in the mercury-for-gold trade. Similar dynamics have been reported in Brazil and Bolivia, where enforcement is weak and black-market demand is high. Although Peru ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013, enforcement has struggled to keep up with the pace and adaptability of trafficking networks. 'These networks are agile,' Fernandez said. 'As gold prices rise, they adapt quickly. Customs authorities need tools, training, and resources to keep pace.' Adam Dolezal, extractive industries campaigner at EIA, said the seizure shows what is possible when customs systems are properly resourced and coordinated — but warned that enforcement alone won't stop the trade. 'Unless mercury production is shut down at the source, this toxic trade will continue,' Dolezal said. Calls are growing to close remaining mercury mines in Mexico and reform global controls on the metal. The issue is expected to take center stage at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention later this year, where advocates hope to eliminate legal loopholes that allow mercury to be traded for small-scale mining. ____ Follow Steven Grattan on Instagram: @ ____ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
