Police commended as 5 Brazilians fined, 4 deported for illegal mining

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on Monday applauded the work of the Guyana Police Force that led to the arrest and sentencing of five Brazilians who were arrested for illegal mining, four of whom were deported for illegal entry.
The quintet appeared via Zoom at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse and all pleaded guilty to the offences. They were each fined $30,000 – or six weeks’ imprisonment in default – on the illegal entry charge and another $30,000 for the offence of illegal mining. In addition, four of those charged were ordered to leave Guyana within 24 hours.
Antonio Isal Das Soura, 49; Michael De Souza Martin, 26; Clinton Martins Fernandes, 19; and Matheus Sere Martins, 20, all from Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, were charged with illegal mining and illegal entry into Guyana, while Taiane Macedo Peixoto, 33, a cook, was charged with illegal mining.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources has welcomed the swift action taken by the Guyana Police Force, in collaboration with other regulatory agencies, which led to the arrest of five Brazilian nationals for illegal entry and illegal mining,” a statement from the Ministry said.
Further adding that the Ministry “reiterates that this action forms part of its ongoing efforts to eradicate illegal mining and to ensure that all operators comply with the country’s laws and regulations. Efforts to stamp out illegal mining remain critical to protecting Guyana’s environment, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the nation’s natural resources for future generations. The Ministry is also reminding all stakeholders that its enforcement campaign continues across all districts and those found in breach of the law will face the full extent of the legal system.”
This latest arrest is the latest in a series of arrests over the past few years as enforcement officials in Guyana continue to significantly step up enforcement against illegal gold mining in recent years, especially targeting foreign nationals, mainly Brazilians and Venezuelans, operating in Guyana without permits.
In January, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), in a gold smuggling crackdown, suspended mining licences of 107 Brazilians who have failed to comply with declaration requirements. The concerns came over Brazilian miners who have reported little or no gold production in official declarations.
In December, two Brazilians and a Venezuelan native were arrested for illegal mining in the Iwokrama Protected Area in a collaborative effort between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Police Force and Iwokrama. Meanwhile, last September, two Brazilian miners were on Tuesday convicted of buying gold in violation of the Gold Board Act.