Notebooks lie open in vacant school classrooms, while a game of pool in a bar appears to have been abandoned mid-match.But the punters are nowhere to be seen following the launch of an army operation to expel criminal groups from Las Claritas on Monday.The gold-mining area controlled by Juancho and Joha Petrica -- the latter a co-founder of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang -- is located in Venezuela's resource-rich Orinoco Mining Arc.AFP journalists saw military vehicles, intelligence service vehicles and armed agents in Las Claritas on Thursday.Taking place just weeks after Venezuela approved mining legislation that opens the door to private investors, authorities have kept their lips sealed about the operation.The South American nation has the world's largest proven oil reserves and is also rich in gold, diamonds, bauxite and coltan, mostly located in the mining belt which is largely controlled by criminal gangs.A dozen people told AFP that they had seen military helicopters dropping three bombs, in an offensive denounced by non-governmental organizations.Jose Guzman, a 68-year-old artisanal miner, heard a projectile fly overhead on Monday."I told people that we were under attack and there was an explosion, and then shortly after, about two seconds later, there were two more," Guzman told AFP.'Reign of terror'
Venezuelan mining towns devoid of life after army operation
A major military operation against criminal gangs in southeastern Venezuela has left a trail of ghost towns and abandoned mines in its wake.
TL;DRAI
Venezuelan military expelled criminal gang Tren de Aragua from Las Claritas mining zone, enabling multinational licensing under newly approved mining law. Unlocking coltan and rare-earth mining through foreign licensing affects semiconductor and AI chip supply chains globally.
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