Illicit Trade in Venezuelan Black Sands Fuels Criminal Networks, Benefits Chinese Companies
A recent inquiry by Amazon Underworld, in collaboration with Armando.info, has revealed a network illegally extracting and trafficking Venezuelan “black sands” – mineral-rich deposits containing valuable elements – across the border to Colombia, and ultimately to Chinese companies.
The investigation confirms that extraction isn’t limited to legal channels through ports in La Guaira and Zulia. Meaningful illegal mining operations, primarily based in the Venezuelan states of Bolívar and Amazonas, are controlled by criminal groups and guerrilla organizations. These groups smuggle the black sands into Colombia, effectively obscuring their origin before they are sold, predominantly to Chinese businesses.
These “black sands” are a conglomerate of heavy minerals crucial for modern technology, including potentially coltan, tantalum, niobium, tin, tungsten, and rare earth elements. their strategic value makes them a target for illicit exploitation.
The report comes amidst heightened geopolitical tensions, including increased US naval presence in the Caribbean and reports of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro offering concessions to the US regarding access to the nation’s natural resources – including these minerals – in an attempt to de-escalate political pressure. While officially framed as an anti-narcotics operation, some beleive the US activity is aimed at securing access to Venezuela’s resources.
This investigation highlights the opaque and disorderly exploitation of Venezuela’s mineral wealth by a range of actors, from state entities to transnational criminal organizations. The illicit trade not only fuels these groups but also provides a supply chain for critical materials to international markets.
For more detailed information, visit: https://armando.info/
Source: amazon Underworld & Armando.info
