Costa Rica Proposes Decade-Long Prison Terms for Illegal Gold Miners

Costa Rica’s incoming National Assembly is reviewing urgent legislation to impose prison sentences of up to ten years for individuals involved in illegal gold mining. The bill, introduced by former legislator Manuel Morales, aims to dismantle the supply chain by penalizing not only miners but also those providing logistics, fuel, or financing. Penalties are harshest for operations in indigenous territories and protected environmental zones. This legislative move addresses a deepening crisis in Crucitas, near the Nicaraguan border, where illegal mining has evolved into organized crime involving transnational trafficking. Mercury used in processing poses severe environmental and health risks. The proposal follows a Constitutional Court ruling condemning government failures to protect fundamental rights in affected areas and recent Penal Code modifications that classified illegal mining under organized crime laws. Despite previous reforms, authorities deem current measures insufficient to deter the industrialized criminal operations damaging Costa Rica’s ecosystems and undermining its reputation for environmental stewardship.