Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno

Visual storyteller

www.jmbb.net

Illegal Minning in Nariño

Location: USA/Colombia

Nationality: Colombian

Biography: Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno is a Documentary filmmaker and photographer. He graduated in Film and Photography technologist from UNITEC in Bogotá. He has worked in video, product photography, travel photography, and photojournalism throughout... MORE

Tumaco, Nariño, Colo...opy; Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Tumaco, Nariño, Colombia. Colombian police units prepare for an anti-mining operation. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, C...Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. Operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, C...opy; Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. Operation against illegal mining carried out by the Colombian National Police in this jungle area in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. A man who was apparently the operator of a backhoe observes the operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. Operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. A police plant C4 explosive during the operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. Operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. An inhabitant and worker of the illegal mining exploitation protests the operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. A backhoe is blown up with C4 explosive during the operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia. Operation against illegal mining carried out by the National Police of Colombia in the south of the country. © Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno.

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Public Story

Illegal Minning in Nariño

Copyright Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno 2023

Updated Apr 2023

Location nariño deparment

Topics feature [featured]

Illegal mining is one of the main problems, in addition to the failed drug war that afflicts the southern departments of Colombia.
In September 2017, a specialized group of the Colombian police was deployed in the territory of Barbacoas, Nariño, where there was information of the presence of several backhoes in the middle of the jungle carrying out illegal mining activities.
Airborne troops supported by riot police on the ground destroyed at least 6 backhoes on the ground, using controlled explosives.
Although these operations are continuous, the illegal exploitation of gold in the middle of the jungle has gotten out of control and produces more profits than drug trafficking itself, making this a growing problem.