Mexico miners hit by theft, robbery

Mining companies in Mexico are losing up to 30% of their products to low-level theft and robberies by organized criminal groups.

Mining companies in remote locations are under constant pressure from crime gangs to pay bribes, with cartels also targeting workers and service providers and stealing vehicles, industry chamber president Jaime Gutiérrez was quoted as saying by local daily El Siglo de Durango.

“Across the country the mining industry is punished by organized criminal groups,” Gutiérrez said. Elevated security costs mining companies need to pay in Mexico equate to an additional tax on the industry, he added.

The chamber has held meetings with public safety authorities, with the aim of helping address the problem in high-risk zones, Gutiérrez said.

Security is a key risk affecting mining companies in Mexico, with cartels vying for control in key mining states such as Durango, Sonora, Zacatecas, Chihuahua and Guerrero.

Mining companies are being increasingly targeted by gangs through extortion and control of transportation and other contracts, following a slump in drug revenues.