Guyanese authorities have detained six foreign nationals, including Brazilians and a Chinese national, after allegedly catching them operating an unauthorised underground mining operation through a shaft without the required approvals.
The six were detained on August 20 during a joint enforcement operation by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Corps of Wardens and the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Natural Resources said.
According to the government, the men were found actively conducting mining activities in one of Guyana’s mining districts without the necessary permission to operate.
They were taken into police custody, where they remain as investigations continue.
The crackdown comes amid the government’s ongoing efforts to tighten enforcement against illegal mining and ensure that operators comply with Guyana’s mining laws and regulations.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said mining districts across the country remain under surveillance as authorities intensify efforts to identify and shut down unauthorised operations.
The ministry issued a blunt warning to miners operating outside the law, stressing that enforcement will apply regardless of nationality.
“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.”
The ministry is also reminding miners and mining operators that they must secure all required licences, permissions and regulatory approvals before commencing any mining activity.
“Compliance with the country’s mining laws is mandatory,” the ministry said, warning that violations will be dealt with accordingly.
The latest arrests underscore the continuing challenge facing regulators as Guyana seeks to control mining activity and ensure that operators work within the legal and regulatory framework.
However, the government has not disclosed the exact location of the operation, the identities of those detained, the type or quantity of equipment found at the site, or whether gold or other minerals were recovered.
It is also unclear at this stage what specific charges the detainees may face.
The six remain in police custody while the investigation proceeds.
