200 Arrested in Amazon's Illegal Gold Mining Crackdown

A sweeping cross-border operation involving police and prosecutors from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname has resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 people. This joint effort, supported by Interpol and environmental crime specialists, targeted illegal gold mining activities within the Amazon region.

During the extensive checks across remote border areas, authorities confiscated substantial quantities of cash, unprocessed gold, mercury, and firearms. The operation also uncovered mining equipment, drugs, and counterfeit goods, underscoring the diverse criminal enterprises linked to illegal mining.

Illegal gold mining remains a critical issue in the Amazon, exacerbating deforestation and polluting vital waterways with toxic mercury. The expansion of this activity, driven by high global gold prices, pushes miners into remote forest areas and fuels organized crime operating internationally.

Interpol's Secretary General highlighted the growing threat of illegal gold mining, particularly in vulnerable and remote ecosystems. The operation recovered mercury, commonly used to extract gold, hidden within solar panels and transported by bus, demonstrating novel smuggling methods.

Further seizures included counterfeit medicines and alcohol, along with essential mining supplies. The operation also revealed a disturbing human element, with a bus carrying undocumented migrants, including minors suspected of exploitation, being intercepted.

Operation Guyana Shield, as it was known, represents a significant advancement in regional cooperation to combat illegal mining, overcoming challenges posed by dense rainforests and porous borders.