law enforcement of Peru they exploded, in their territory, Ecuadorian heavy machinery used for illegal activities. This operation occurred on February 27, 2023, but it was made public on March 6, 2023.
According to the investigations of the public force of that country, this machinery was used for the illegal minery. These devices supposedly belonged to Ecuadorians, who crossed the border limit by Macará, in Loja.
After learning about this operation, the Armed forces They spoke with the Peruvian authorities, who informed them that 10 people were detained during that operation.
???? #Urgent | Peruvian helicopters bombed Ecuadorian excavation machinery that was in Peruvian territory, near Macará. ????
The machinery would have been carrying out apparent illegal mining work. pic.twitter.com/gGEfJMHlDL
– Find out.ec (@enteratepuntoec) March 6, 2023
The commander of Macará, Hugo Estévez, indicated that the destroyed machinery did not have papersno records, but it is presumed that it was owned by Ecuadorians.
Details about that operation
The authorities of Peru informed the mEcuadorian military that these machines were in Peruvian territory and therefore their laws authorize them to destroy them.
In addition, Estévez assured that Peru did not bomb the site with the use of helicopters and that the entire operation was carried out in Peruvian territory.
The machines were detonated while they were in territory of the neighboring country. It is known that they were close to macara, in an area called Tabacal and Guarapo. Videos show the moment when these devices explode.
How is the possession of illegal mining machinery penalized in Peru?
According to article 307 of the Penal Code of Peru, whoever acquires, uses, possesses or stores machinery intended for the “commission of crimes of illegal minerywill be punished with a custodial sentence of not less than three years nor more than six years.