Members of major organised crime group arrested in Guyana

…as local Police partner with INTERPOL, neighbouring countries to crack down on illegal mining
…198 arrested, cash, gold, mercury, guns, drugs seized

At least three persons believed to be linked to a major regional organised crime group were arrested in Guyana during a joint operation involving several South American nations and led by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) last month.

In a statement on Thursday, INTERPOL said it partnered with the Police and prosecutors in Guyana, Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname in the first-ever transnational operation to combat illegal gold mining.
During the cross-border operation carried out in December 2025, over 24,500 checks were conducted on vehicles and individuals, which led to some 198 arrests. These include the detention of three men in Guyana on suspicion of gold smuggling and money laundering.
“They were carrying unprocessed gold and US$590,000 in cash and are alleged to be members of a major organised crime group with possible links to a leading Guyanese gold exporting firm,” the statement from the France-based organisation detailed.
Additionally, the operation also led to the seizure of cylinders of mercury in Guyana and Suriname, totalling over US$60,000. These cylinders were being transported by bus and concealed in solar panels.
Mercury is commonly used in illegal gold mining to separate the gold extracted from other metals and is extremely harmful both to the environment and human health.
According to INTERPOL Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, “The surge in international gold prices in recent years has resulted in increased illegal gold mining, making it the fastest-growing revenue stream for organised crime groups, including in Latin America. At INTERPOL, we are committed to working with our partners to disrupt those networks and prevent more damage to this remote and environmentally fragile region.”
Meanwhile, Operation Guyana Shield also involved “mirror operations”, where officers from Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname worked in tandem to carry out checks and searches on opposite banks of the rivers Oyapock and Maroni that form the borders between French Guiana and Brazil to the south and Suriname to the west.
These included inspections of some of the many small stores located on the banks of the Maroni River that sell different types of supplies and equipment used in gold mining and, in some cases, are known to be involved in the smuggling of gold and illegal supplies such as mercury.

Counterfeit medicines, alcohol & cigarettes
INTERPOL said the inspections marked an important first step in transnational Police deployment there, and officers managed to seize counterfeit medicines, alcohol and cigarettes with a value of over US$40,000.
The operation also led to the seizure of mining equipment, such as pumps and mats used to trap gold, firearms and communications equipment, including mobile phones. Officers also intercepted a bus carrying undocumented migrants, including several minors suspected of being exploited for child labour or sexual abuse.
Operation Guyana Shield (December 2025) was led by Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname and was supported by EL PACCTO 2.0, a European Union (EU) cooperation programme that accompanies Latin American and Caribbean countries in their fight against transnational organised crime, in conjunction with INTERPOL and the High Impact Environmental Crime team of the Dutch Police.
Launched in July 2023 following the third EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit in Brussels, this second phase of the programme strengthens the EU-LAC partnership on justice and security. It helps build more effective, transparent, and rights-based criminal justice systems, contributing to safer and more just societies.
With a budget of €58.8 million, funded by the EU, EL PACCTO 2.0 promotes political dialogue, technical assistance and institutional capacity building.  The programme operates across the criminal justice chain and ensures that gender equality, environmental sustainability, and human rights are fully integrated throughout its actions.

Local crackdown on illegal mining
But even as Guyana partners with INTERPOL and regional neighbours, there have been heightened efforts in recent weeks by local authorities to crack down on illegal mining activities in Guyana and streamline the industry.
Just last week, the Natural Resources Ministry, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), launched a zero-tolerance campaign against mining operations that have failed to meet their statutory obligations, resulting in a number of operations being shut down, minerals seized, and legal proceedings initiated against the offenders.
In fact, only on Thursday, the Ministry reported that some 44 individuals have been arrested, charged, and brought before the local courts for engaging in illegal mining practices across Guyana, primarily in major mining districts such as Bartica and surrounding areas in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), as well as Mahdia and its environs in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
These offenders have been convicted and made to pay various fines in accordance with local laws, as the Ministry warns that several other cases are presently under investigation, and it anticipates that further charges will be laid as the process advances.
This adds to the seizure of over 50 pieces of equipment and other related mining materials from unlicensed mining operations in the Northwest District, Region One (Barima-Waini).
Stakeholders in the mining sector, including the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), have backed the Government’s efforts to crack down on and eradicate illegal mining across the country.