Thread by @MiamiHerald

For years, a sprawling illegal gold mine fueled Peru's economy, but it also became a national embarrassment. Earlier this year, the government finally had enough. (THREAD) hrld.us/2IaRlYY

The 40-square-mile area, known as La Pampa, used to be old-growth Amazon forest. Now, it's a toxic wasteland.

So Peru's government shut down the gold fields. In the process, it also unveiled just how addicted the region had become to illegal mining.

The result? A $69 million hole in Peru's economy ⁠— and a spike in crime that's bleeding into other parts of the country, affecting tourism.

In April, a tourist bus was held up at gunpoint near Madre de Dios’ capital, Puerto Maldonado, and in February, a nature lodge, full of Japanese sightseers, was robbed and one of the workers was murdered.

“There’s no doubt that there’s a direct link between the violence and the closing of La Pampa,” Madre de Dios Gov. Luís Hidalgo Okimura said.

Tens of thousands of one-time miners are now adrift. One of those ex-miners hasn't been able to find a job: “All of these problems are because foreigners want to protect the jungle.”

Read the story: hrld.us/2KJwZHP

For more on illegal gold mining in Latin America, and how drug lords made millions smuggling gold to Miami, read our full #DirtyGold investigative series. hrld.us/2KQahxE