Brazilians, Chinese nationals nabbed in illegal mining crackdown

As efforts continue to crackdown on illegal mining in Guyana, authorities have arrested six foreign nationals after they were found conducting unauthorised operations here. In a statement on Friday, the Natural Resources Ministry said that, through sustained efforts led by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), at least five Brazilians and one Chinese national were detained on Thursday over illegal mining activities in one of the local mining districts. These individuals were operating an underground mining operation through a shaft without the required approval. According to the Ministry, the illegal miners were detained through the joint efforts of the GGMC Corps of Wardens and the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The six foreign nationals are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
The Natural Resources Ministry used the opportunity to remind industry players that all mining districts across the country remain under surveillance as part of ongoing efforts to detect and curb illegal mining operations. It warned that any individual, Guyanese or foreign, found conducting mining activities in breach of Guyana’s laws and regulations will face the full force of the law. To this end, the Ministry further reminded all miners and operators that they must secure the required licences, permissions and regulatory approvals before commencing any mining activity.
“Compliance with the country’s mining laws is mandatory and violations will be dealt with accordingly,” Friday’s missive detailed. In recently years, the Guyana Government has been aggressively working to streamline the rapidly expanding mining sector with increased environmental regulations, enforcement actions against illegal operators and pushing for more sustainable practices in the sector.

No tolerance
The Natural Resources Ministry had previous cautioned that illegal mining will not be tolerated under any circumstance. Only in June, authorities had shut down six illegal operations within the Mazaruni Mining District in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and arrested more than 30 persons as part of its continued crackdown.
The six illegal mining sites were operating within a quarry area. In addition to the arrest of 38 persons, several pieces of equipment and machinery used to support the unlawful activities were also seized. Meanwhile, back in March of this year, at least five Brazilian nationals were arrested and charged with illegal mining and illegal entry into Guyana. Antonio Isal Das Soura, 49; Michael De Souza Martin, 26; Clinton Martins Fernandes, 19 and Matheus Sere Martins, 20 – all Brazilian nationals of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil – appeared virtually in a local court on March 27 and pleaded guilty to the charges filed against. For the offence of Illegal Entry, each defendant was fined G$30,000 or six weeks’ imprisonment in default. Similarly, each defendant was also fined G$30,000 or six weeks’ imprisonment in default for the Illegal Mining offence. They were all ordered to depart Guyana within 24 hours. Additionally, Taiane Macedo Peixoto, a 33-year-old Brazilian national, a cook of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, who was also charged for Illegal Mining. She too was slapped with a G$30,000 fine or six weeks’ imprisonment in default when she appeared in court to the answer to the charge. The Government of Guyana had maintained a zero-tolerance policy on illegal mining and warned that it will continue to take decisive action to detect, disrupt and prosecute all unlawful activities in the sector.