THE Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed that a total of 53 individuals were arrested, charged and convicted during January 2026 as the government intensifies its nationwide crackdown on illegal mining operations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said the matters were concluded before the Bartica, Mahdia and Linden Magistrates’ Courts, where the offenders pleaded guilty to breaches of Guyana’s Mining Laws and Regulations.
The convictions stemmed from a range of illegal activities, including mining without a licence or permit; operating licensed dredges on mining properties without the permission of the property holder and the use of unregistered or unlicensed dredges.
In accordance with the law, the courts imposed fines for the various offences committed.
“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 made it clear that enforcement action against illegal mining will continue without interruption, as authorities move to strengthen regulatory compliance across the sector.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources reiterates that this course of action will continue unabated to ensure full compliance with the Mining Laws and Regulations, while ensuring environmental sustainability in harnessing Guyana’s natural resources for present and future generations,” the statement noted.
The government has in recent months stepped up monitoring, inspections, and enforcement efforts across mining districts, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to unlawful mining activities and environmental violations.
Earlier in January, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) announced the suspension of all mining operations and related authorisations held by a number of named individuals, following their failure to comply with a public notice issued.
President, Dr Irfaan Ali had previously urged all gold miners to make the full declaration of gold produced in 2025, adding that registered dredges with no declarations will be deregistered, while illegal foreign miners must be identified for prosecution and expulsion.
These issues were raised by the President during a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at State House.
“During the meeting, the President directed that immediate action be taken to ensure that all gold miners fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025.
“Further, all registered dredges with no declarations will be deregistered, and all foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion. It was also noted that some Brazilian miners operating in Guyana have had very low or no declarations.
“These miners have 24 hours to comply fully with the laws of Guyana and the requirement to declare to the Guyana Gold Board,” a post on the President’s Facebook page said.
Additionally, it was stated that the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and the Ministry of Natural Resources are working together to ensure that all miners in every category operating in Guyana are registered with the ministry, and further, that they all have local bank accounts.
Meanwhile, GGDMA President Ronaldo Alphonso said he is urging the mining public to be compliant, and to sell their gold to legitimate sources to sustain the mining sector for generations to come.
“It is our responsibility as miners to ensure the sustainability of the industry. We need to make it compliant, and we need to declare gold. Make 2026 the year of compliance and declaration,” Alphonso said, according to the post.
In December 2025, President Ali had said that his government would pursue and shut down delinquent operators who continue to exploit state incentives while failing to declare their gold.
According to the Ministry of Finance’s 2025 mid-year report, gold declarations are up by 10.9 per cent this year, but Dr Ali stressed that this remains below the government’s expectations.
He had emphasised at the time that miners who profit from the sector have a legal responsibility to accurately declare their gold, reminding them that this duty is “not by choice, but by law.”
The President added that the government intends to overhaul systems that have enabled chronic under-declaration and illegal exports, stating that the state must stop facilitating “those kinds of people.”
One gold smuggler alone stole more than $190 billion from the Guyanese economy, he had disclosed.