No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeCosta Rica’s Crucitas Faces Environmental Disaster from Illegal Gold Mining

Costa Rica’s Crucitas Faces Environmental Disaster from Illegal Gold Mining

Environmental crime in Costa Rica has escalated dramatically, with the illegal gold mining crisis in the Crucitas region now bearing all the hallmarks of organized crime, according to Environmental Prosecutor Luis Diego Hernández.

Speaking on the growing threat, Hernández warned that criminal networks have seized control of gold mining operations not just in Crucitas, but also in other critical ecosystems like Corcovado National Park in the South Pacific.

“The Public Prosecutor’s Office has identified figures like sponsors, resource providers, infrastructure coordinators—this mirrors the structure of drug trafficking organizations,” Hernández explained. “These are not isolated miners. These are tightly controlled operations run by specific individuals or groups.”

The operations, according to Hernández, involve the systematic provision of industrial-grade tools, makeshift infrastructure, and hazardous substances like mercury and cyanide—chemicals used to extract gold from rock but which pose grave environmental and health threats. “We are dealing with trafficking in dangerous substances. The phenomenon has reached a point where we can confidently say this is organized crime,” he added.

Authorities have also traced a disturbing financial trail. Hernández confirmed that illegal gold mining operations are directly linked to money laundering schemes, further embedding environmental exploitation into Costa Rica’s broader criminal underworld.

A cross-border investigation titled Mined Countries—conducted by La Voz de Guanacaste, Interferencia de Radios UCR (Costa Rica), Revista Concolón (Panama), and the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP)—exposed a staggering 623% rise in cyanide imports over the past decade. The chemicals are often transported without oversight and used indiscriminately, contributing to toxic pollution in mining zones such as Crucitas and Abangares.

Local ecosystems and nearby communities are paying the price. Runoff from illegal mining has contaminated rivers, degraded biodiversity, and exposed residents to toxic substances. Despite years of discussion and promises of intervention, authorities have yet to implement any sustainable or concrete plan to dismantle the syndicates or restore the ravaged land.

“No one is offering a real solution,” Hernández lamented. “And the problem keeps growing.” Environmental advocates warn that if the current trajectory continues, not only will Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity face irreversible damage, but communities in the path of illegal mining operations will also remain vulnerable to violence, economic exploitation, and severe health consequences.

Trending Now

Costa Rican Man Dies After Health Decline in U.S. Immigration Custody

Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old man from Pérez Zeledón, died after nearly two months in a Costa Rican hospital. His family confirmed the death,...

Melinda Hildebrand Confirmed as US Ambassador to Costa Rica

The United States Senate has approved Melinda "Mindy" Hildebrand as the new ambassador to our country, marking a fresh chapter in bilateral ties between...

Scientists Identify New Salamander in Costa Rica’s Highest Peak Ecosystem

Scientists have identified a new salamander species in the remote páramo of Chirripó National Park, highlighting our country's rich biodiversity and the pressing challenges...

Costa Rica Presidential Candidate Eli Feinzaig Recovering

Presidential candidate and Congressman Eli Feinzaig of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) underwent surgery Saturday night to repair a fractured sternum sustained in a...

Docuseries Last Lands Spotlights Panama’s Prison Island Now a National Park

ABC News Live has launched the second season of its docuseries "Last Lands," with an episode that spotlights Coiba Island in Panama. The island,...

Uncertainty Dominates Costa Rican Voters Ahead of 2026 Elections

A new poll from the University of Costa Rica's Center for Political Research and Studies (CIEP-UCR) paints a picture of widespread indecision among Costa...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica