Venezuelan soldiers detain mining workers; seize fuel, cash at border area

Nov 23, 2018 News

Miners are appealing for more protection after ranks from Venezuela’s National Guard, in the latest incident, detained them in the Cuyuni River yesterday afternoon. That river separates the two countries.
One miner disclosed that his boat had 15 drums of fuels, which were destined from camps in the Eteringbang and other areas.
“I think you know by now that the Sindicatos (Venezuelan gangs) have been controlling the Cuyuni River. I always believed that the Cuyuni belonged to Guyana. They came with guns and a boat and ordered my men over to their side,” the miner said.
There, the National Guard took the cash the men had, including more than $100,000 for a worker’s salary and US$100.
“They allowed the men to go. But we are not only dealing with the National Guards. We have to pay the Sindicatos to use a river that belongs to us. We have our army ranks that are not far away, but nothing much is being done.”
The Sindicatos are said to be heavily armed and extremely dangerous.
The miner said that a report was made to authorities about yesterday’s incident.
The issue of the escalation of threats to Guyanese, especially miners who traverse the Cuyuni, has been surfacing for more than a year now.
Miners claim that for every drum of fuel, they are forced to pay over a pint to pass checkpoints.
The local army was mandated to patrol the river. However, the problems have been continuing.
With Venezuela facing severe economic woes, its people have been desperate for food and supplies.
Gangs have taken over border areas with some incidents spilling over to Guyana.
A law enforcement officer was shot recently while passing in a boat, it was reported recently.

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