Illegal gold mining in Peru - in pictures

A boy pans for gold at an illegal mine in the La Pampa area of Madre de Dios state Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A man controls an engine that pumps water and sand as people mine Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

People gather in a bar at an illegal gold mine Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Water streams over carpets that filter the earth and water Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Workers transport empty drums at the mine Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Police and soldiers walk to helicopters that will carry them to the site of illegal mining operations Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

An aerial view of the mines Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A miner walks amid the destruction of the jungle as a fellow worker lays down a filtering mat Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A woman cries in front of police after authorities destroyed her canoe's engine, which partially destroyed her boat, for allegedly transporting machinery used by illegal gold miners at the Punkiri dock Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Police secure the area during the destruction of canoe engines, used by people who allegedly use them to transport illegal mining machinery Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Manuel Espinosa holds his four-month-old son Edward brought to him by his wife as he takes a break from mining Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A nightclub worker sits outside a club at a highway junction that leads to mining camps Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Police stand guard as a miner begs them not to destroy his truck in the Huepetuhe district Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A controlled explosion destroys a truck and heavy machinery used for illegal mining Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A miner leaves an area from where water is pumped and then used to blast the crater's walls in which gold can be found amongst the sand Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

A couple talks outside a nightclub in the early morning Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Land affected by illegal gold mining stands in the Huepetuhe district. Miners use tons of mercury to bind the gold flecks they dig up, and have ravaged forests and poisoned rivers in a biodiverse region that is also home to tribes living in voluntary isolation Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP