Nine more arrested for illegal mining as crackdown continues

Nine individuals were arrested, charged, and brought before courts in January for breaches of mining laws, the Ministry of Natural Resources said on Saturday.
The cases were concluded before the Bartica, Mahdia, and Linden Magistrates’ Courts, where the offenders pleaded guilty and were fined for engaging in illegal mining operations and related offences, the ministry said. The convictions involved mining without a licence or permit, operating licensed dredges on mining properties without permission, and using unregistered or unlicensed dredges.
“These nine convictions add to the 44 persons previously arrested, charged, and brought before the courts as part of the Ministry’s intensified national crackdown on illegal mining operations, bringing the total number of persons prosecuted to 53,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said it will continue enforcing mining laws to ensure compliance and protect environmental sustainability while harnessing Guyana’s natural resources for current and future generations.