The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) confirmed that Megamar Corp. extracted sand without a concession. This took place in Punta Chame, where the company is developing a tourism project. Videos on social media show tractors moving sand from the seabed at low tide to fill in the area for its project. By comparing Google Earth satellite images from 2013 and 2024, a change in the beach's morphology is evident. In an official letter dated February 6, 2026, Acting Minister Eduardo Arango acknowledged that 'the company Megamar Corp. does not have a concession, authorization, or permit for sand extraction in the Punta Chame area.' The illegally extracted 500,000 cubic meters of sand, valued at approximately $5 million, have raised environmental concerns, as the area was a known nesting site for sea turtles until 2016. Residents of Punta Chame have filed complaints with MICI and the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente), requesting a formal investigation into the alleged illegal sand extraction and potential environmental damage.
