Undocumented individuals processed, gold seized & persons of interest verified

– as authorities carry out operation in Central G/Town

Following Friday’s directives by President Dr Irfaan Ali to get mining operators compliant with local obligations, the Guyana Government carried out a joint operation in Georgetown during which undocumented individuals were processed, gold was seized and persons of interest were verified.
The operation was executed by the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Compliance Unit along with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“During these operations, several undocumented individuals were processed, gold was seized, and the verification of persons of interest was successfully completed. This initiative is a part of our ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and the trading of precious metals in our country,” the GGMC said in a statement on Saturday.
According to the missive, similar operations will be conducted across the country to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The GGMC is reminding stakeholders that the Guyana Government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards illegal mining activities.
“We are committed to safeguarding our natural resources and ensuring compliance with all regulations governing the mining sector… We will continue to work diligently to protect our environment and uphold the rule of law in all mining operations. The cooperation displayed by our various agencies exemplifies our dedication to this cause, and we urge the public to report any suspicious activities related to illegal mining and trading,” the missive detailed.
The Guyana Government has taken a series of measures to streamline the gold mining industry and curb illegal trade, including clamping down on foreign operators who fail to comply with local declaration obligations.
During a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at State House on Friday, President Ali instructed that immediate action be taken to ensure that all gold miners fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025.
“Further, all registered dredges with no declaration will be deregistered, and all foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion,” a post on the President’s Facebook page stated.
It was explained that some Brazilian miners operating in Guyana have had very low or no declarations. According to the post, “These miners were given 24 hours to comply fully with the laws of Guyana and the requirement to declare to the Guyana Gold Board.”
Only on Friday evening, the GGMC issued a list of at least 80 Brazilian operators and three Guyanese – all dredge owners – to make urgent contact with the Commission regarding their mining operations.
Moreover, it was noted that the Natural Resources Ministry and Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will be working together to ensure that all miners in every category operating in Guyana are registered with the Ministry, as well as ensure that they all have a local bank account.
In fact, the GGMC on Friday evening issued a notice to stakeholders that all miners and operators are required to maintain a local bank account as a mandatory condition for the processing, access, and/or renewal of permits and licences.
Persons who did not previously submit their banking information to the Commission are required to do so on or before January 31, 2026. Those who do not have a bank account are encouraged to take immediate steps to regularise this matter.
In furtherance of this requirement, the Natural Resources Ministry will collaborate with the banking sector to facilitate outreach exercises at Mahdia, Puruni, and Matthew’s Ridge, during which authorised representatives of banking institutions will assist with the establishment of personal bank accounts. The schedule for these outreaches will be announced later.
Stakeholders are being cautioned that non-compliance with this requirement will affect the processing, issuance, or renewal of licences and/or permits.
Similarly, the GGMC has informed all miners and stakeholders, including traders, that they have to present themselves at the Commission’s office for the purpose of updating their personal records no later than January 31. These records include, but are not limited to, mailing address, electronic mail address(es), telephone contact number(s), and banking details.
According to the Commission, the obligation to ensure that this information is accurate and current rests solely with the licence or permit holder, warning that non-compliance with this requirement would result in the suspension of the relevant licence(s) and/or permit(s).
Meanwhile, just last week, President Ali had revealed that a comprehensive assessment of Guyana’s mining sector will be completed and presented on January 5.