Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Meteorite Crater Guarded by Peru's Police after U.S. Citizens Attempt to Traffic it

(LIP-ir) -- Peru's official government news agency reported yesterday that the crater where a meteorite fell in Puno, Peru was being guarded by 20 of Peru's National Police officers.

Chief of the police station, Major Victor Anaya stated that the officers had been placed near the meteorite landing site to keep a group of U.S. citizens from trafficking pieces of the meteorite.

On Monday October 1, Ronald Woodman, the president of Peru's Geophysics Institute (IGP) claimed that a group of U.S. citizens, led by Michael Farmer, were attempting to traffic pieces of the meteorite.

Woodman stated that Farmer was a known meteorite hunter that searched for meteorites around the world and sold them to collectors. He stated, "They planned to start digging today and take them out of the country. This is worth money, and they are taking them to sell them not to study them."

The Geophysics president expressed his discontent with respect to the team led by Farmer. He stated that they were taking advantage of the townspeoples' ignorance, stating that the meteorite was worth much more than what they were paying.

Anaya reported that police had searched for the meteorite hunters at their hotel but were unable to catch them because they had left. He explained that the U.S. citizens had urged the townspeople to collect samples, causing some of them to attempt to drain the water from the crater.

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	U.S. Collector Admits He Bought Meteorite Fragments in Peru (by LIP, Oct 4, 2007)
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# ron davis says :
3 October, 2007 [ 19:21 ]

   I hope this is not the Andromeda Strain!
   What about all those sick campesinos?
   
 

# Jerry Wills says :
3 October, 2007 [ 20:41 ]

Quote...

"The Geophysics president expressed his discontent with respect to the team led by Farmer. He stated that they were taking advantage of the townspeoples ignorance, stating that the meteorite was worth much more than what they were paying."

First of all, who else was offering them money? No one, likely. It was only more valuable to those who are in government looking for a quick buck.

As for Farmer... He shouldn't have done this, as it would well be worth examining. However, those folks in the area are really poor and any amount of money helps them feed their families ,which is alot more than the government of Peru does for them.

Just my thoughts

Jerry Wills

# Mike Farmer says :
4 October, 2007 [ 09:36 ]

I am home after 22 hours of travel today, thank god.
 
 
I am exhausted, no sleep for at least 3 days, imagine
how I do not want to write this tonight, but must get
my side out there.
 
 
I am going to give you all the exact truth about this
debacle, take it as you will.
 
 
Moritz Karl, Robert Ward and myself traveled to Peru
and arrived at the crater on Saturday. We arrived in
Desaguadero and immediately went to the border police
(you walk across a bridge from Bolivia so the police
stand there on the bridge). I am FLUENT IN SPANISH, so
I spoke with the police about the meteorite. Within
seconds I had bought pieces from them, as they all had
pieces of the meteorite in their pockets.
They agreed to take us to the crater, and the called
Major Anaya to confirm, he suggested armed guards
since the locals do not like the police and we went in
TWO police trucks to the crater.
 
When we arrived, there was a kid there from Puno
university doing some study with an antenna and
laptop. The crater was closed off by the locals. I
spoke with them, told them who I was and that we were
here to see the meteorite crater and to buy pieces.
Within minutes we were allowed into the crater, and
the university kid begged me to get him in too, the
locals had refused him entry. This is the same kid who
wrote in the Peru newspaper yesterday that I had him
barred from the crater and interfered with his studied
by telling the locals to banish him! I got him in to
the crater, and what did he do, lie to the newspaper!
 
We bought many pieces over the next few hours, and the
police left us at the crater, the landowner Javier,
told us he would drive us back to town later. He was
extremely nice, and we bought pieces of meteorite from
him and paid him well each day to be our guide.
We found pieces ourselves and spoke with all of the
locals. I impressed the local elders and was informed
that they would call a town meeting later, and we were
to be invited to speak about meteorites and give
advice on what to do. 
We attended the town assembly and I was asked to
address the villagers and explain to them about
meteorites, the importance of this meteorite, and what
to do about it. I told them that the meteorite was
harmless (the government scientists and police all
told the locals that it was dangerous and could poison
them and their animals while they took all of the
larger pieces). I told them that the crater would be
destroyed upon the first rains, and that the main mass
of the meteorite was underground. the scientists had
told them that the meteorite vaporized into the poison
steam and there was nothing in the hole. I told them
that for their town, and for science, the meteorite
must be dug up as soon as possible, to preserve it
from rotting in the water, and every day in the water
was destroying the meteorite. They thought that
tourists would come to pay to see the crater, I told
them the tourists would more likely come to see the
meteorite, not a mud-pit. I told them that their
village was in the news all over the world, and that
by digging up and protecting the meteorite, they would
have even more fame, instead of regret if they let the
meteorite rot in the mud. The entire town cheered me,
and voted at that time to dig out the meteorite and do
it carefully, preserving the crater as best they could
but saving the meteorite first, since that is the
important part. 
 
Sunday was uneventful, we spent the day taking video
and finding pieces of the meteorite as well as buying
pieces form the locals, who it seemed were all
dragging speaker magnets around the area and were
picking up small fragments. 
 
On Monday ,the entire town came to dig out the
meteorite, the mayor of Desaguadero addressed the
crowd, brought the pump, and after hours of prayers
and ceremonies, began pumping out the water. After
about two hours, the crater was nearly dry, then the
mayor called an end to work and said that we would
continue on Tuesday. We were frustrated at the 1 pm
end of day and protested that the crater would just
fill with water again, to no avail. 
 
Later that afternoon, we went to town and were caught
by the police, Major Anaya, and interrogated in the
police headquarters. There was a man from Puno who had
arrived and asked us questions for about an hour or
so. He seemed quite nice, wanted my advice on the
meteorite, and I told him the same thing, that the
meteorite must be saved at all cost and speed. He
wanted me to speak to a group who would arrive on-site
the next day. He said he heard we were there and came
to stop the digging up of the meteorite. I told him I
wanted to buy pieces, which I already had done, and in
the interest of science, to have the meteorite dug up.
 
 
The police were nice enough, but took our passports
and information down and faxed Lima. Then they
demanded that we show them where our hotel was.
Needless to say, things got dicey from then on. We
were a little freaked out, but not worried. Later that
evening we had dinner and walked to the border to find
out what time it would close, as we wanted to get back
to Bolivia since the activity was bothersome. We did
not have time to pack our bags and make it back before
the crossing closed for the night, so as we turned
back to go to the hotel, we were intercepted by the
Major and two other policemen in plainclothes. They
asked if we were trying to leave, and we said no, just
checking the border hours. The Major hinted at big
problems for us, and he went into the bar leaving the
other two cops to deal with us, who told me to meet
them in 30 minutes at my hotel. They told me that we
were in trouble but that they would take us across the
border and demanded a payment of $500.00 each. I
bullshitted my way around for an hour, then paid them
$100.00 each. They told me to get across the border in
the morning, and said that they would email me and
sell me pieces of meteorite through the Internet. I
pretended to be happy for their help. 
 
At 5 am on Tuesday, I was awakened by the same two
policemen demanding $500.00 more each or we would be
arrested. They said that I had been denounced in Lima
and that national police were coming to arrest us. I
refused to pay and they said they would see me at the
border and to keep track of my money in a very
threatening way.
I got Robert and Moritz up, and we packed our bags and
went to the border, the police were waiting on us. The
border did not open for one hour, so we hailed a taxi
and threw our bags in, and went 50 miles away to
another border crossing into Bolivia. We had no
problems crossing there.
 
Later in the day on Tuesday, when we arrived in La
Paz, I checked me email, and lo and behold, I had
emails from the US Embassy in Lima, saying that they
heard I had been arrested and were offering assistance
and advice. I also had the threatening emails from Mr
Gregory, or whatever he calls himself today. He
admitted to working with the cops to have us arrested,
as you all saw in your emails. 
 
This is the end of the story, we did nothing other
than tell the locals that they should dig up their
meteorite to save it, and since the locals have a lot
of autonomy, they voted to do just that. 
It seems that the federal government did not like that
idea (not my problem, that is between them and the
locals, I only told them the truth, that the meteorite
was being lost and destroyed forever sitting in sewage
water).  I had no plans to buy or steal the meteorite
(how the hell would I move something that weighs
tons)? 
I have the town meeting on video, where I told them to
save the meteorite and build a museum to house it,
that would bring in tourist, not a mud-hole. 
 
 
The police and Mr Gregory are mad that the locals
decided to take action on their own, and cut them out
of the large amount of money that the meteorite is
worth. You can clearly see that in his emails, now
angry they the site is guarded. He said in en earlier
email that he planned to dig it up himself, it seems
that has now been made impossible, so he and his Major
drinking buddy can't get rich.
 
The press in Peru, Randall Gregory, and the corrupt
police in Desaguadero have turned this into an
international incident. I have a telephone conference
scheduled for 9 am tomorrow with members of the Lima
US Embassy to denounce the police, and Mr Gregory. I
have already forwarded his threats to them, and expect
action will be taken. He has colluded to the police to
harass, extort, and arrest me for doing nothing more
than visiting the crater, and dispensing advice.
Buying the meteorite pieces is not illegal in Peru,
and the same cops sold us pieces, and also sold Mr
Gregory his 4 kilo piece, as he admitted to the list
only days ago. 
It seems that he can't keep his lies, stories, and
motives strait. 
 
I do not take kindly to threats of harm, arrest, and
being robbed of money by corrupt police. The embassy
has assured me that this is a national news story, and
by making an official report tomorrow, action will be
taken. I hope Mr Gregory, and the piece of crap cops
in Desaguadero get what is coming to them. 
 
This is a short and to the point version, but not much
is left out I don't think.
 
Michael Farmer

# Jerry & Kathy Wills says :
4 October, 2007 [ 10:51 ]

Mike

Wow, what a story! It's great that you taped your talk to the village. Kathy & I were in Moyabomba a few years ago, taped our suggestions with the locals - coffee growers being ripped off - and needed it later.

Good for you, man!

We have lived in Peru several times over the years, for up to a year at a time each time, and know only too well the incident as you described it fits for the country.

We too have encountered corrupt police and officials at every turn.

Being explorers, we discovered a still as yet undiscovered city in the San Martin area with loads of gold ore still in the rocks the city was built from. At every village we passed thru, locals tried to sell us artifacts - amazing pieces of gold and stone - for $20 ~ $30. Instead of buying the pieces we called a town meeting in the same manner you did, and suggested tourists would pay to see these items. This upset the local authorities who now saw a potential for selling the objects.

We were told to leave by the military because of "death threats", and of course we headed out at once and have never returned to that area. That was 5 years ago.

We completely believe your story, Mike.

It's really unfortunate the press didn't check your side of the story before releasing it internationally.

If you like, we could interview you (HD video) and put the story, along with any pictures you have, and place the story online at http://www.XpeditionsTV.com. Furthermore, I can contact a few of our friends in the radio and other media if you're interested. I'm certain they would like to interview you as well.

For now, we'll forward your side of the story to our newsletter list, reaching about 3 million interested folks worldwide.

Please contact us via email if you're interested at Xpeditions@mac.com

Best Wishes

Jerry & Kathy Wills

producers

Xpeditions TV

Phoenix, AZ

# Michael says :
4 October, 2007 [ 11:14 ]

Both the english version of the story and the spanish verion I've seen online leave lots of details out and many questions.

Unfortunately, Mike Farmer's story fits pretty well with my experience in remote areas of Peru also.

# don smith says :
4 October, 2007 [ 20:39 ]

Farmer got what he deserved.  The guy goes into peru, makes a ruckus, offers to pay these impoverished people a "fair"sum, than sells the meteorite at astronomical prices.. these people would be better off without the middle man and sell it themselves!

# Michael Farmer says :
4 October, 2007 [ 21:08 ]

Don Smith, I have not sold one gram, so can I ask what astronomical price I might be charging? I guess you would prefer that the people get nothing, and science lose the meteorite?
please elaborate? So because I paid the people a nice price, enough to change some of their lives, you feel that I should be robbed by corrupt cops? Again, please make an attemp to justify that.

# Michael says :
4 October, 2007 [ 21:08 ]

Yes, maybe.

But there is something to be said for having the experience and knowledge of a marketplace to know how to maximize profit from it.

I would venture to guess that no one in that area would have the experience and expertise it would take to pull it off.

And since no one, in any article, has said how much Mr. Farmer was paying for the fragments, then one would only be assuming he did not pay them fairly.

Aside from that, fairness of a price for an item with subjective value is certainly up to the seller.  If a seller does not want to hold out for more, or educate themselves on the value of what they have, then whatever price they are satisfied with getting is a fair price.

# ron davis says :
4 October, 2007 [ 21:54 ]

 
   Many of the first reports stated that people had been made ill by the meteorite. Some spoke of 1500 individuals affected. This was credited to hysteria by some sources. My wife and I were in Desaguadero about 48 hours after the fall, spending some time there, and there was no palpable signs of hysteria. Are we ever going to get to the bottom of the mysterious illness issue?

# Jerry & Kathy Wills says :
4 October, 2007 [ 21:57 ]

I agree... I can only wonder if Don Smith has a remote CLUE what it's like in Peru. What's not being said here is that the cops in Peru are totally corrupt. They can - and do - drum up false charges in order to supplement their low saleries. While Kathy & I were in Iquitos (the Amazon) we were asked to pay bribes in order to get some property survey done by the government authorities.

Don Smith hasn't a clue folks. If he did he would have sounded like it.

Best Wishes

Jerry Wills

# michael Farmer says :
4 October, 2007 [ 22:12 ]

http://www.andina.com.pe/NoticiaDetalle.aspx?id=144322


Here is a new article in Andina, telling my side of the story, and affirmed by the landowner.
Here is the translation which I just did, original  article in spanish.



I will translate it here for those who do not read
spanish.

Michael Farmer


"Police in Desaguadero Deny having sold pieces of
meteorite to Americans"

Desaguadero, Oct 4.  The cheif of police in
Desaguadero, Major Victor Anaya denied having sold
pieces of the luminous object that fell on the
community of Carancas to an American "Meteorite
Hunter".

According to Michael Farmer, known meteorite dealer,
the local police sold him the majority of fragments.
He affirmed as well, that Major Anaya "sold to another
american, a piece of meteorite of some 4 kilograms for
two thousand dollars".

After being contacted by the news agency, Andina,
Major Anaya assured that that story is totally false
and the local police had done very well in recovering
fragments of the meteorite, but that they were later
sent to different scientific institutions.

He said he had documentation for shipments of
meteorite and said that other local police kept no
pieces of the meteorite.

As told by Javier Atuhuachi, whos mother-in-law Gavino
Ramos Madani, who is the landowner of the agricultural
land there the meteorite fall on the 15th of
September, agreed with Farmer in affirming that the
police took most of the meteorite pieces left by the
celetial body.

"The day that the meteorite fell, no local member of
the community went to collect pieces because they were
scared of contracting some form of sickness. Later
when they learned that they were worth money, they
began collecting pieces using magnets, but all of the
larger pieces had been taken by the police" he said.

"I have personal knowledge that the police sold these
pieces for large sums of money? he said, although he
clarified that he had seen none of the transactions he
spoke about.

On the otherhand, he said that his mother-in-law has
received no compensation from the meteorite which fell
on her agricultural land, in spite of more than 25
years of sowing Cebada and potatoes on this spot.

Lastly, Atahuachi lamented that he now must abandon
his home beacuse of the fear f sickness and because
fragments of the meteorite destroyed the tin roof and
damaged the walls of the home.

End


Michael Farmer

# Rev says :
4 October, 2007 [ 23:13 ]

Maybe it is time to get the People Version of the event to this hold Fiasco. I,m not saying i don't believe, what has been said,but the trues to what has happened lye s in the hand of the People. The People will tell me what i need to know.

This is my assumption of this hold mess,and it is about[Power-Control-Greed] and these assumptions will gain there full status in time.

Nothing is Free in this WORLD. Everything come s with a PRICE.

# Peruvian C.S says :
4 October, 2007 [ 23:20 ]

Yes,i will be talking to the People soon on this mess,to get their version and then we can set all the inquisitive minds at rest.

# UFOdc.com says :
6 October, 2007 [ 14:17 ]

What crashed was not a meteor.
http://www.avid.com/exchange/files/20/corpindustrial/entry265299.aspx
Objects with exact characteristics were imaged in 2002 at the US Capitol Building:
http://www.avid.com/exchange/files/20/corpindustrial/entry265258.aspx

# UFOdc.com says :
6 October, 2007 [ 14:24 ]

I am concerned with the "contents" of this anomaly? What I encountered was non corporeal when the anomalies landed in front of me. http://www.UFOdc.com

# Jerry & Kathy Wills says :
6 October, 2007 [ 14:50 ]

Additionally, for those interested --- I suggest you check out the following website. Robert Stanley has written a very good book about the UFO's over DC. It's pretty amazing information supported with photo's.

http://www.unicusmagazine.com/p2.htm

One thing I'm really curious about are the reports of folks getting ill as a result of this object. Our son lives in Peru and has first hand accounts of quite a few who fell ill right after this crashed.

What's up with this?

Jerry

# UFOdc.com says :
6 October, 2007 [ 15:27 ]

What I encountered at the US Capitol, I believe to be the entities that exited the green spheres. Where I imaged these anomalies at the US Capitol is devoid of life:.ie: dead. The grass in one area was mutated, unlike anything I have ever seen? If these objects are of another nature: atomic structure, then it is obvious that this energy is toxic. As indicated in Robert Stanley book, there is an issue to this that is far greater than meets the eye. They are here, what crashed in Peru may have unleashed something far greater than any sickness? I was burned by something at the US Capitol. I witnessed this green anomaly "warp out" and exit through a "Stargate". If you think what crashed is a meteor, then explain the limited impact creator, and the boiling liquid? I think you should be looking in the infrared range for your illnesses. That which is unseen to the human eye but in infrared.
http://www.UFOdc.com
http://www.unicusmagazine.com/

# don smith says :
7 October, 2007 [ 12:52 ]

Mike,

Come on.  You have chosen not to sell any of THIS meteorite (yet) because of the controversy... What was the total you paid... a pittance to what it would be on the collectors market.  Again, cut out the middle man, have the townsfolk sell directly on ebay (maybe you could buy then a "nice" computer to help them.  No, I haven't been to Peru. No reason to go, and I am not so stupid to ignore another countries culture (including corruption) and go stomping on in.  I HAVE been to the middle east (some corrupt people there, just like in the USA), you learn to deal/avoid certain situations. So yes JErry, I don't have a clue about Peru... it's not much different than anywhere else, though.  The issue isn't about corrupt cops (they were helping mike initially, and mike didn't say no). Not that this is a good thing, its not, and mike should spank em as hard as he can.  Its the perception of americans running in and taking what they want for some pittance (yeah, it cost you to fly, drive, drink, eat, and sh-t, but so what) for whatever it is they want.  Just like trading glass beads for fur, rubs some cultures wrong....

# don smith says :
7 October, 2007 [ 13:20 ]

In response to micheal:

"fairness of a price for an item with subjective value is certainly up to the seller".

I agree. However, that assumes a certain level of competence on the seller.  These people have no clue (or even the means to find out), how much what they have is worth.  They are being taken advantage of. Now, if you educate them on how much these might be worth, and they still want to sell cheap, oh well. 

# JPL says :
26 March, 2008 [ 07:02 ]

love to hear the rest of this strange story... kinda abrupt ending...

# Jerry Wills says :
26 March, 2008 [ 10:44 ]

I agree... I would like to read the final chapter. Incidentally, I have been told about a large meteorite recently found in a remote part of the Andes and plan to travel there in a few months to investigate and video document it. Once I have, it will be available at Xpeditions TV:

http://www.XpeditionsTV.com

I'm told it would be impossible to remove due to its "...big as a car" size. Apparently it crashed into the Earth long ago. The crater is 300 meters wide. If anyone is interested to stay informed our notices will be sent out via our newsletter. Subscription information is available on our site.

Regarding the end of Mike's story: I am curious what the final word is.

Best Wishes

Jerry Wills

producer

Xpeditions TV