In Venezuela, illegal mining, particularly of gold, has led to severe environmental and social consequences, including the country's highest deforestation rates within the Amazon basin. Between 2016 and 2020, approximately 140,000 hectares of primary forest were destroyed, driven by unregulated mining activities that also resulted in significant mercury contamination and habitat destruction. This crisis is exacerbated by the involvement of armed groups and guerrillas who control the mining operations in the Amazonas and Bolivar states, often with the tacit approval or direct involvement of corrupt elements within the Venezuelan state. These groups commit widespread human rights abuses and pose significant threats to Indigenous communities. The Venezuelan government, under Nicolis Maduro, has been implicated in profiting from the illegal gold trade, which has become a crucial financial resource amidst the country's economic crisis and international sanctions. Efforts by international actors and neighboring countries to curb these activities face significant challenges due to the deep integration of illegal mining within the political and economic fabric of Venezuela. The situation is further complicated by the global nature of the gold supply chain, which often sees illegally mined gold laundered through multiple countries before reaching major markets.