Illegal Mercury Trafficking Fuels Amazon Gold Mining Crime, Threatening Regional and U.S. Security

In a striking exposé led by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), authorities have uncovered an extensive mercury trafficking scheme fueling illegal gold mining across the Amazon basin, spanning Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. Over the past six years, at least 200 tons of mercury—used to extract illicit gold—have been smuggled through complex networks tied to organized crime. This is not just an environmental crisis; it is a direct challenge to sovereignty and rule of law on this continent. How Does Mercury Smuggling Undermine National Sovereignty and Security? The mercury originates from active mines in Mexico’s Sierra Gorda biosphere reserve –...