In this episode of The Journal, the ongoing turmoil at Zijin Mining Group's gold mine in Buritica, Colombia, takes center stage. The Chinese state-run company is losing millions in gold to rival miners, who are being backed by the formidable Gulf Clan drug cartel, leading to intense underground trench warfare in the mine. Meanwhile, the Colombian government's strategy of opting for dialogue and avoiding direct confrontation with armed groups has left Zijin feeling abandoned, prompting the company to file a $430 million lawsuit against the government at the World Bank. This situation underscores the intricate relationship among multinational corporations, drug cartels, and a government struggling with rampant illegal mining and economic disparity. The podcast also sheds light on the individual miners, who brave dangerous conditions for the possibility of significant earnings, alongside the government's efforts to legalize small-scale mining as a possible solution.
