18 killed at illegal gold mine in clashes with forces

At least 18 people were killed at an illegal gold mine in southern Venezuela during clashes with security forces looking to take control of the area, an official said Sunday.

An army officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the violence broke out Saturday when the army traveled to the Cicapra mine after receiving information that an armed gang was threatening wildcat miners.

Violence has been on the rise in Bolivar as Venezuela’s cash-strapped government looks to open the resource-rich area to foreign investment amid a turf war between criminal gangs and the military.