Police in Region Seven are investigating two armed robberies at Sewanda Backdam, Region Seven, during which two Brazilian gold miners were reportedly robbed of cash, raw gold, jewellery and other items valued at more than $44 million.
According to a police statement, the robberies occurred between 10 am and 5.30 pm on Monday and were carried out by four masked men who were reportedly armed with firearms.
Investigators said the two victims, aged 44 and 50, operate separate mining camps located about 200 metres apart.
Police said the bandits first descended on the 44-year-old miner’s operation while he and his workers were conducting mining activities. The men allegedly held them at gunpoint and ordered that the wash-down process be completed before relieving the miner of 15 ounces of raw gold, $150,000 in cash and a red ATV, with the stolen items valued at approximately $15.4 million.
The suspects then reportedly moved to the second mining operation, where they held the 50-year-old miner and his workers at gunpoint and similarly demanded that the wash-down process be completed.
The 50-year-old miner was allegedly robbed of 30 ounces of raw gold, a 20-pennyweight gold chain, a 20-pennyweight gold band, a six-pennyweight gold ring, a red ATV and $300,000 in cash, with the items valued at approximately $29.265 million. Police said the suspects also made off with a quantity of clothing, groceries and internet equipment.
During the robbery, the older miner was allegedly assaulted and sustained injuries.
Police said the two ATVs were later recovered abandoned near the Puruni River.
The suspects remain at large and investigations are continuing.
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