In March 2020, the Canadian company Equinox Gold began operations at the Los Filos gold mine located in the Carrizalillo ejido, in Eduardo Neri, in the state of Guerrero. The company acquired the mine from Leagold Mining Corporation.

In September 2020, the communities reported that the agreements reached with the company during negotiations had allegedly not been honored, including a lack of transparency and even discrimination and racism against the local population. In response, the communities blocked access to the mine, resulting in the suspension of its activities.

In a statement published on September 7, 2020, the Red Mexicana de Afectados por la Minería (REMA) condemned a military deployment in the ejido, which they described as intimidation against the community for demanding that Equinox Gold honor its commitments.

In September 2020, the BHRC contacted Equinox Gold to request its response to these allegations. The company stated that it was meeting with community leaders to listen to their concerns and that it takes its environmental, health, safety, and social obligations very seriously. The company’s full response, as well as the ejido’s replies, can be consulted below.

People opposing Equinox Gold’s mining activities affecting the Carrizalillo ejido have denounced the imposition of the project, bad faith in negotiations, as well as threats and acts of criminalization. They have also pointed to the health damage suffered by the communities due to the company’s actions.

In March 2025, the communities reported the presence of company representatives in the ejido, as well as discriminatory and stigmatizing rhetoric against ejido members who oppose the project, accusing them of being against “development.”

In March 2025, the BHRC again contacted the company to request its response to these allegations. The company stated that, beginning that same month, it had started reducing mining activities and carried out a restructuring proposal that it presented to the community in several meetings. Its full response can be consulted below.

In May 2025, it was reported that the company had decided to close the mine.