The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, carried out joint operations here on Saturday , with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the ministry’s Compliance Unit, 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 ministry said in a statement.
‘The Government of Guyana 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.’
The statement added that similar operations will be conducted across the country to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
‘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.’
On Friday, President Irfaan Ali said gold miners who fail to declare their production will face immediate consequences, including deregistration, prosecution, and possible expulsion as the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal and non-compliant mining operations.
‘All registered dredges with no declaration will be deregistered, and all foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion,’ Ali said.
Guyana last year set a target of 500,000 ounces of gold and according to a government statement, Ali directed that immediate action be taken to ensure that all gold miners fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025.
Ali, who met with senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Friday, said special attention is focused on some Brazilian miners whose declarations are very low or absent.
According to a government statement, the Natural Resources ministry and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will work together to ensure all miners across every category (small, medium and large) are properly registered and have a local bank account.