According to an InSight crime article, illegal mining is on the rise in southern Venezuela, even as Brazil tightens its grip on the region. This increase in illegal mining activities has led to significant environmental damage, human rights abuses, and security threats for both Venezuela and the region. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of criminal groups, including gangs, Colombian guerrilla groups, and paramilitary groups, who are competing for control of the country's valuable mineral resources, such as bauxite, coltan, diamonds, and gold. The Venezuelan government's inability to control these illegal activities has led to irreversible damage to the environment and a humanitarian crisis among the indigenous communities affected by the mining. The situation is so dire that some are calling for the interim government to take immediate action to halt illegal mining operations, protect indigenous and local communities, and implement public health policies to mitigate the spread of diseases caused by the mining.