The Ministry of Natural Resources has commended the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and partner regulatory agencies following the arrest, prosecution, and deportation of several Brazilian nationals caught engaging in illegal mining activities in Guyana.
Four Brazilian nationals Antonio Isal Das Soura, 49; Michael De Souza Martin, 26; Clinton Martins Fernandes, 19; and Matheus Sere Martins, 20 all from Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil, appeared via Zoom before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The men were charged with illegal entry and illegal mining, to which they each pleaded guilty. For illegal entry, each was fined $30,000 or six weeks’ imprisonment in default, with an identical penalty imposed for the illegal mining charge. The court further ordered their deportation within 24 hours.
In a related matter, Taiane Macedo Peixoto, a 33-year-old Brazilian national who worked as a cook, also appeared before the same court on a charge of illegal mining. She pleaded guilty and was fined $30,000 or six weeks’ imprisonment in default.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, in welcoming the enforcement action, underscored the serious consequences illegal mining poses to Guyana’s environment, the rule of law, and the sustainable management of the country’s natural resources. The ministry made clear that such operations will not be tolerated.
Authorities confirmed that enforcement operations will continue across all mining districts, warning that anyone found in breach of the law will face the full force of the legal system.
The ministry is also calling on all stakeholders in the mining sector to ensure strict compliance with national laws and regulations as the government intensifies its campaign against illegal operations.
