* Increased cases of robberies, kidnappings and killings
* Drug gangs mining iron ore and selling it for export
* Miners getting hooked on drugs
ByMica Rosenberg
MEXICO CITY, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Mining firms have shuttered a handful of exploration projects in remote areas of Mexico as the industry grapples with threats from drug cartels and rising security costs, Mexico's mining chamber said on Thursday.
Cartels are threatening mining operations not just in the violent corridor along the U.S.-Mexico border but in isolated, mountainous regions in other parts of Mexico, where traffickers grow marijuana and heroin poppies, the chamber said.
Executives belonging to Mexico'sNational Mining Chamber have reported cases of drug traffickersextorting, kidnapping, attacking and selling drugs to their workers.
Theft of precious metals is on the rise in Mexico, executives said. The government also said this week it caught one cartel member selling iron ore to firms exporting to China.
"We are living a very difficult situation," saidRamon Davila, the COO of Vancouver-based First Majestic Silver Corp (FRMSF
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"Thereare more and more specific cases of threats from organized crime tryingto penetrate areas of mining exploration and operation," he said.
Miners have long seen Mexico, a major copper and silver producer, as a top destination for investment in Latin America. Spending on new projects is on the rise and the industry sees investment at over $13 billion from this year through 2012.
But as bloodshed mounts in Mexico'swar on drugs, which has killed over 29,000 people since late 2006,there are some cases of small companies fleeing the country's mostperilous areas.
Davila said he knew of at least twocompanies in Durango state that had shut down exploration projects dueto fears of drug violence.
PresidentFelipe Calderon haspledged to crack down on drug cartels and says spiraling violence is asign the government is making progress as it captures capos and cartelssplinter.
But some analysts warn drug violence could eventually undermine the economy as Mexico struggles out of a deep recession and courts international investors.
"Unfortunately, where we operate the response from authorities has not been as fast as we would have liked,"Manuel Luevanos, the mining chamber president, said.
STOLEN GOLD, ORE
About two weeks ago, 150 gold and silver bars worth $3 million were stolen from a mining company in the central state of Zacatecas, said Luevanos, also an executive at top silver producer Fresnillo .
Canadian mining giant Goldcorp built a landing strip to fly gold out of its Los Filos mine as the country's highways become more fraught with banditry, saidSalvador Garcia, the company's Vice President.
Garcia said security costs had risen 5-10 percent this year compared to last year.
Some traffickers have started their own side business in illegal mining, the attorney general's office said this week.[ID:nN13282657]
Steel giant ArcelorMittal recently lodged a complaint claiming iron was being sacked from its concessions in the western state of Michoacan,Jesus del Campo, an official at the economy ministry, told Reuters.
Hesaid some foreign mining companies were encouraging illegal mining bypaying cash for tonnes of iron ore, used to make steel in China, without asking for permits.
Miningexecutives said drug traffickers were encouraging drug use among someof their employees who make relatively high salaries in poor areas.
"Amining camp is an attractive market for drug dealers," Luevanos said.Companies have taken to giving workers drug tests and firing those whoturn up positive.
Drug violence around mining facilities has caused concern for the industry. Fresnillo had a case of workers gunned down in front of their families at a mining camp where employees live, Luevanos said.
"This is not just worrying the management. It is sowing terror among (mining) families and many have fled," he said. (Editing byMissy Ryan andSofina Mirza-Reid)