Indigenous wampís warriors take on illegal gold mining in peru’s amazon after government fails to act

Deep in Peru’s northern Amazon, the Indigenous Wampís people have taken matters into their own hands to protect their ancestral territory from illegal gold miners and loggers. Faced with years of environmental destruction and little government support, the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation formed Charip, a community-led patrol group that has achieved remarkable results in just months.

Since launching in February 2024, Charip has made headlines by arresting three Peruvian police officers caught collaborating with illegal gold miners near the community of Villa Gonzalo along the Santiago River. The bold action prompted a high-level government delegation to visit the Wampís territory, where officials promised to eliminate illegal mining operations. However, sources report that the Peruvian state has yet to follow through on these commitments, leaving the Indigenous community to continue their fight alone.

The 60-member Charip patrol, led by president René Santiago, has achieved significant victories against environmental criminals. Throughout 2024, they confiscated and destroyed at least seven massive dredging operations along the Santiago River, equipment used to extract gold while poisoning waterways with mercury and destroying riverbank ecosystems. The UK-based Forest Peoples Programme has supported their efforts by providing fuel and food supplies.

Despite their successes, the Wampís defenders face ongoing challenges. Peru’s Ministry of Culture, regional governments, and even the Sixth Jungle Brigade—the army unit responsible for Amazon conservation—have remained silent about supporting Indigenous protection efforts, highlighting the gap between government environmental promises and action on the ground.