Police and prosecutors from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname have jointly arrested about 200 people related to illegal gold mining. The cross-border operation involved over 24,500 checks on vehicles and individuals which led to the arrests.
These include the detention in Guyana of three men on suspicion of gold smuggling and money laundering. They were carrying unprocessed gold and USD 590,000 in cash and are alleged to be members of a major organized crime group with possible links to a leading Guyanan gold exporting firm. “The surge in international gold prices in recent years has resulted in increased illegal gold mining making it the fastestgrowing revenue stream for organized crime groups, including in Latin America. At INTERPOL, we are committed to working with our partners to disrupt those networks and prevent more damage to this remote and environmentally fragile region,” said Valdecy Urquiza, secretary general, Interpol.
The operation also led to the seizure in Guyana and Suriname of cylinders of mercury with a value of over USD 60,000. Mercury is commonly used in illegal gold mining to separate the gold extracted from other metals and is extremely harmful both to the environment and human health.
