Mining in southern Venezuela, represented in the Orinoco Mining Arc, has become an activity imbued within a large organized criminal network that reaches all levels of political and military power. One of the key irregular actors within this complex plot consists of the Organized Armed Groups (OAGs). This report presents the results of an investigation into the presence, activity and influence of the OAGs in mining operations south of the Orinoco River, covering the states of Amazonas and Bolívar as the scope of study.

The state of Bolívar appears among the top places for violence at the national level. Three of the most violent municipal districts in the country are located in the mining areas of the state of Bolívar.

Read and download the complete report published by SOSOrinoco on March 31, 2022: Presence, Activity and Influence of Organized Armed Groups in Mining Operations South of the Orinoco River