Illegal Brazilian miners arrested, prosecuted

Last Updated on Monday, 17 November 2025, 20:09 by Writer

At least 24 mostly Brazilian miners, have been arrested and are being prosecuted for illegal immigration and mining offences in a major crackdown by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), with support from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), authorities said on Monday.

Unofficially, the number of those arrested could be as high as 28 including two women.

However, police sources said one Venezuelan was among those detained on Saturday morning.

They were placed in a cell at the Mahdia Police Station.

Police sources said a number of them had already appeared in court via Zoom while others were sent to Georgetown.

The GGMC could charge them for illegal mining.

Demerara Waves Online News has also seen a video in which GDF Colonel Dominic Shepherd, in the presence of a number of interior residents, saying that they had agreed that mining would be regularised and those concerned would have to contact the GGMC.

“No further mining is going to done and we agree that this matter is going to be resolved. We cooperate: Toshao, Councillor you will return to the village and we work with peace in the best interest of Guyana,” he said.

A relative of one of the detained Brazilians said Guyanese soldiers went to Mawau River, Kopinang and collected all the Brazilians, several of whom have travel documents. “What they are saying is that they didn’t get a chance to explain themselves to the authorities and they were carried to the Mahdia Police Station,” the woman said. “To my understanding, some of them are legal and some are illegal,” she added.

The woman said a Brazilian company was operating there legally but several of the workers were not.