Three people were killed in an attack on informal miners in Peru's Pataz region on New Year's Eve. Local officials reported seven missing, but police stated no one was kidnapped, though prosecutors found shell casings and launched an investigation. Two individuals were arrested. Pataz is a major gold-producing area, with many informal mines operating under permits, some of which are allegedly exploited by illegal miners working with criminal gangs. This incident follows a similar attack in May that killed 13 miners.