Five foreign nationals, including Venezuelans, have been detained following the discovery of an illegal mining operation in the Potaro mining district, the Ministry of Natural Resources said yesterday.
In a statement, the ministry said the persons were detained by the Guyana Police Force during an operation in which several pieces of mining equipment and a quantity of gold were seized.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s Corps of Wardens and the police.
The ministry warned that illegal mining would not be tolerated and reminded miners and other stakeholders that they must obtain the necessary permission and comply with the country’s mining and environmental laws.
It said the GGMC, working with law-enforcement agencies, would continue surveillance and enforcement exercises across the mining districts.
According to the ministry, foreign nationals previously found participating in illegal mining activities are being deported. It did not say whether deportation proceedings had begun against the five persons detained in the latest operation.
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