Thirteen miners in Peru were found dead after being kidnapped by a criminal gang trying to seize control of a gold mine owned by Poderosa in Pataz province.

The miners had been sent to confront illegal miners but were taken hostage and later executed.

The incident highlights a growing wave of violence and criminal activity targeting mining operations in Peru.

Poderosa, which employs 8,000 people, criticized the government’s failure to stop illegal mining and called for urgent action, the BBC has reported.

Peru is one of the world’s top gold producers, mining over 100 tonnes annually.

Written by B.C. Begley