"PUBLIC PROSECUTOR TURNS UP HEAT OVER ATICO", 18 June 2022

...Investigations into the tragic deaths of artisanal miners in Atico, in Arequipa region, continue. The public prosecutor, María Cabana, has presented her case to the Public Ministry in which she argued that the owner of Intigold Mining SA hired professional hitmen to murder the miners. A group comprising hitmen, other miners, and security guards attacked and killed 14 artisanal miners. 31 of the accused group are now in custody...

...The company is already under investigation over an incident in December 2020 for which it is being prosecuted by demanding 50% royalties on production by artisanal miners and then hiring thugs to attack informal miners, leaving two dead and nine injured.

...High rates and increases in royalties can be used by mining concession holders (such as Intigold) often without state involvement or challenge. As artisanal miners depend on concession holder agreements to mine, the effective management of these relationships remain a core challenge in areas where artisanal and small-scale mines are present...