Illegal gold mining in Colombia, “the new cocaine”

protesting miners decry the government’s willingness to hand over the country’s natural resources to big MNCs while criminalizing small- and medium-scale local miners, who have few alternatives to make a living. These miners dig wherever they can, especially in remote areas beyond the government’s reach, damaging the environment with no safety considerations. Mines operating without full certification account for more than 85% of the metal produced in Colombia, according to the National Mining Association .
http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatbusiness/2015/02/20/illegal-gold-mining-in-colombia-the-new-cocaine/