FIVE female Venezuelans were on Wednesday fined by city Magistrate Leron Daly for entering Guyana illegally.Yaola Figueroa, Johana Gutierrez, Mariah Figueroa, Yonaly Sanchez and Dianna Gutierrez were charged separately for entering Guyana illegally by sea on July 25 at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River and disembarking without presenting themselves to an immigration officer.

Speaking through an interpreter, the foreign nationals pleaded guilty to the charge. They were unrepresented and were fined $20,000 or an alternative of two weeks imprisonment. They were ordered to be kept in police custody until they reached the nearest port of exit, from where they would be deported.

Over the past few weeks, about 16 Venezuelans were fined and deported to their homeland after entering Guyana illegally. Many have said that the economic crisis in their country has forced them to leave.