Ali warns gold miners of tough action for smuggling

Last Updated on Saturday, 15 November 2025, 9:27 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali on Thursday warned gold miners that his government would shut down their operations if they are caught smuggling the precious yellow metal.

Addressing the opening of GuyExpo 2025 at the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia, he made it clear that his administration would be targeting gold miners who received government incentives but turn around and smuggle gold produced. He said incentivised miners should act responsibly and declare their production in keeping with the law.

“Those who still are not compliant with the declaration, we are going to come after you hard and strong. We will find you and you will lose your business,” he said.

Dr Ali welcomed the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association’s (GGDMA) backing of a recent crackdown on illegal gold mining operations in the Sand Hills and Toroparu areas by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Police Force. Several illegal miners and raiders were detained, and several illegal shops and operations were dismantled.

The Association said Guyana must stop activities such as illegal gold mining, illegal shops, human trafficking, gold smuggling and the sale of illegal drugs must be smashed as they had been in the past tied directly to the gangs in Venezuela including the notorious sindicato gang. “At a time when Guyana is under threat from its aggressive neighbor, the country must take all steps to stop activities linked to the financing activities in Venezuela,” the GGDMA said in a statement.

Without naming the miner, President Ali said one gold smuggler caused Guyana’s economy to lose more than GY$190 billion. “We must ensure our system does not produce those kinds of people anymore. Our system must be locked in, must be protected and must be designed to ensure those leakages are removed,” he said.