CANADA-US-MEXICO
Mexico STEPS UP SECURITY
New mining police force launched in light of recent attacks By Alisha Hiyate
M
exico has long been a top mining jurisdiction, but with the country’s mineral bounty comes heightened security risk f rom organized crime. That risk was underlined with a string of robberies that took place between last November and April of this year. Thos attacks included the theft of gold and silver doré bars in transit f rom Fresnillo’s Noche Buena mine in November and its Penmont mine in March, and an audacious robbery of Alamos Gold’s Mulatos mine in March that reportedly took less than 10 minutes. In the wake of these incidents, the federal government has responded to pressure to step up security, putting in place a new police force specially trained to protect mining operations.
16 | CANADIAN
MINING JOURNAL
In September, Mexico’s Federal Protection Service (SPF), part of the federal public security ministry, graduated the f irst class of 118 of f icer specializing in the security of mining operations. “TheSPF has highly trained police officers who will now also join the care of the mining sector,” said Alfonso Durazo Montano, Mexico’s then-minister of security, at the graduation ceremony in late September. “We know that the security of these facilities is delicate and requires high specialization.” At the ceremony, Durazo (who resigned in October to run for governor of Sonora) added that the Security Ministry, the Ministry of the Economy and the Above: Officers from Mexico’s Federal Protection Service in training. CREDIT: FEDERAL PROTECTION SERVICE
Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex) had worked together to create specialized security strategies for the country’s mining regions. Many mining operations are located in remote regions and isolated communities, and the private security f orces they employ lack the weaponry and logistical, intelligence and operational capacity of organized crime – read drug cartels – in these regions. Rather than a brand new f orce, the SPF has added the option of mining-focused training to its regular training program. Thebulk of SPF officer are tasked with protecting ministry buildings and facilities, as well as some government off icials, says Alan Zamayoa, an associate analyst with consultancy Control Risks who’s based in Mexico City. www.canadianminingjournal.com
