Brazilian illegal gold miners at Iwokrama entered Guyana as tourists

Last Updated on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, 23:29 by Writer

Several illegal Brazilian gold miners, who fled their operations in the Iwokrama Rainforest protected area leaving behind their passports, entered Guyana under the guise of tourists, the Iwokrama International Centre said on Wednesday.

“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,” the organisation established by the Guyana government and the Commonwealth headquarters said in its statement.

The Iwokrama International Centre said two Brazilians were caught. One of them was among four miners who, according to the conservation organisation, was among those who ran away from the enforcement team, but passports were recovered indicating that they were engaging in this criminal activity within Iwokrama.

They are Jailson Ferreira Lima, Iago Silva Alves, Jose Antonio Rodrigues Dos Santos and Jose Dos Santos Silvino.

Iwokrama Centre said Mr Silvino was arrested during an operation on October 8 and Flaviano Teixiera-Costa was arrested on October 8 as a result of a mission by Guyana Geology and Mines Commission along with the Guyana Police Force and Iwokrama Rangers. The Centre said it reserved the right to publish the names and photographs of individuals found conducting illegal gold mining activities in the protected area.

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

The Iwokrama Centre said 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, the organisation added.

“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 added.

The Centre released pictures of the illegal gold miners as well as piles of solid waste, mainly glass and plastic beverage bottles, mining equipment, and forest destruction due to the mining.

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.