Collaborative Enforcement Activities on Illegal Mining Lead to the Arrest of a Brazilian National in the Iwokrama Protected Area

Ongoing efforts of the Iwokrama International Centre together with support from the Government of Guyana agencies to stem the illegal gold mining situation within the Iwokrama Protected Area has resulted in a further arrest.

On November 1, 2025, a mission with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission along with Guyana Police Force and Iwokrama Rangers saw the arrest of a Brazilian national – Flaviano Teixiera-Costa- seen below.

For the past year the challenge with illegal mining has continued, though somewhat reduced, we are seeing more foreign nationals entering the country to engage in this illegal act. 

Several miners ran away from the enforcement team, but passports were recovered indicating that the following persons are engaging in this criminal activity within Iwokrama.

• Jailson Ferreira Lima
• Iago Silva Alves
• Jose Antonio Rodrigues Dos Santos
• Jose Do Santos Silvino

It is understood that these Brazilian nationals entered the country under the pretext of vacation with intent to participate in illegal gold mining in the Iwokrama protected area.  

Jose Do Santos Silvino (below) was apprehended during an operation on October 8, 2025. 

The Centre would like to once again remind the public and other stakeholders that gold mining activities are absolutely PROHIBITED in the Iwokrama Forest.  The IWOKRAMA ACT 1996 is clear on the prohibition of illegal activities with provisions for such violations.

Furthermore, such illegal activities pose an imminent threat to our national ecological integrity, disrupts local livelihoods and traditional practices and undermines Guyana’s forestry and protected areas management systems. Such violations WILL NOT be tolerated. 

Iwokrama reserves the right to publish the names and photographs of individuals found conducting illegal gold mining activities in the Protected Area. 

Iwokrama’s management acknowledges that collaboration is the only way to target such illegal activities and are grateful for the continued support from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Police Force, the Protected Areas Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.