In 2009, sources of the mineral alloy commonly known as coltan were found in Colombia, a strategic resource given its high global demand for the manufacture of electronic devices. For this reason, and taking into account the current post-conflict context, it is considered relevant to investigate and learn about its extraction and commercialisation processes, which to date have been consolidated around illegal groups. This is based on a case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Venezuela, with a comparative analysis that shows how these practices have an impact on the social, economic, environmental and political dynamics of these countries.