40 charged, fined $1.3M over illegal entry, mining at Iwokrama Protected Area

…1 remanded on firearm charge

A total of 40 persons were charged following a Joint Services operation conducted within the Iwokrama Protected Reserve Area, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) between June 13 and June 14, 2026.
The defendants were charged on Tuesday with illegal entry, contrary to Section 34(1)(b) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 14:02, and illegal mining, contrary to Section 14(1)(a)(i) of the Mining Act, Chapter 65:01.
Among those charged with both illegal entry and illegal mining were Luiz Angle, Carlos Alberto Lezama Rivas, Oliver Jesus Urdaneta, Anabel Bolívar Flores, and Daysmair Jaramillo Carrillo.
Abigail Hernandez and Dilmarita Figueroa Martines were charged with illegal entry only.
A further group was charged with illegal mining only, including Kamel Roberts, Joel Sampson called “Naldo”, Alex Simon called “John”, Jushan Stephens, Ezra McCurdy, Duran Harvey called “Leopold”, Ilight Hendricks, Junior Whittington called “Jerry”, Joel Daw called “Godson”, Walter Devon called “Dunce”, Alex Vincent called “Bernard”, Rayon Faleim, Michael Earle called “Dove”, Olden Murray, Rohan Rambhrrat, Dexter Atkinson, Winston Gomes, Travis McCallum, Shane McCalmon, Reaz Khan, Terrence Hinds, Ivor Albert, Angilo Felix, Shawn Wilson, Thelston Edward, Carlos Alberto, Ronaldo Tudor, Orin Jones, Devin London, Imran Jacobus, Peter Andrew, Alanzo Christian, and Sonita Miguel.
The defendants appeared virtually before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read to them. All of the accused pleaded guilty.
Each person convicted of illegal entry was fined $50,000 and ordered deported to Venezuela. Those convicted of illegal mining were each fined $25,000.
In a separate matter, Raul James, a 37-year-old pork-knocker of Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, Region Ten, was charged with possession of a firearm without a licence, contrary to Section 16(2)(a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05.
James appeared virtually before Senior Magistrate Nurse at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty. Bail was refused, and he was remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to September 23.