Thirteen people kidnapped on April 26 in northern Peru have been found dead, DPA reports, citing information from the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior, BTA reports.
The bodies of the victims - miners and security guards at a gold mine - were found in a pit in the mountainous province of Patas, La Libertad region, the mayor of the city of Patas told local television “Canal En“.
The mining company “Poderosa“ confirmed that the victims worked for a subcontractor. According to the company, they were kidnapped by armed miners linked to criminal groups who are trying to establish control over the mine.
The region is under a state of emergency due to increasing cases of violence, DPA also notes.
The Peruvian Ministry of the Interior announced that elite units from the special unit for combating organized crime, as well as an investigative team from the kidnapping department of the local police, will be sent to the area.