Exploration company accused of bribery in Mexico
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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating a Calgary-based company over allegations of bribery in Mexico.
The Mounties are checking whether Blackfire Exploration Ltd. made monthly payments to a local mayor to prevent protesters from interrupting the mine’s operation, says the CBC:
An outspoken critic of Blackfire’s mine was killed in Mexico in 2009, which led to a temporary shutdown of the mine. However, that homicide is not part of the RCMP investigation.
In a statement the company has said it did not knowingly bribe anyone, believing the money was being used for public works in a nearby town.
A special corruption unit was formed three years ago to investigate Canadian companies operating abroad. Canadian company Niko Resources was fined $9.5 million earlier this year for bribing an official in Bangladesh.
Blackfire says on its website it owns the 1500-hectare Payback Barite Mine through its Mexican subsidiary, along with 12 properties in Canada.
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