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Foreign nationals arrested for illegal gold mining in Iwokrama Protected Area
(Kaieteur News) –A joint operation to clamp down on illegal gold mining inside the Iwokrama Protected Area has led to more foreign nationals who invaded Guyana’s most treasured rainforest reserve being arrested.
In a press release, Iwokrama said a joint enforcement operation involving the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Iwokrama rangers continue to yield results in curbing illegal gold mining as two Brazilian nationals and one Venezuelan national were arrested on December 10, 2025. Those arrested are: Rondiney Barbosa Periera, Edwardo De Souza Braz and Venezuelan national Cristhian Jose Cedero.
According to the release, the foreign nationals were caught “red handed” operating dredges illegally within the Iwokrama Forest. Equipment was also found near the Basha Bay area of the Protected Area and one of the foreign nationals reportedly stated that he was brought there by Brazilians. Further, it was stated that De Souza Braz was seen attempting to go in to Siparuni with a group of one Guyanese and six Brazilian nationals when they were turned back by GGMC and police back in November.
The joint operation has been underway in the Siparuni area since November 22, 2025. Back in November Iwokrama Rangers intercepted Brazilian national Flaviano Teixiera-Costa, who was detained after being found mining illegally in the internationally recognised conservation zone. Several miners fled into the jungle as enforcement teams arrived, but officers recovered passports identifying other Brazilian nationals linked to the illegal operation: Jailson Ferreira; Lima Iago Silva Alves; Jose Antonio Rodrigues Dos Santos and Jose Do Santos Silvino.
The area in the Iwokrama Forest where the illegal mining and damage occurred
Iwokrama noted that while illegal mining activity within the protected area has declined compared to 2024, the problem persists, with an increasing trend of foreign nationals entering Guyana both legally and illegally to engage in unlawful gold mining.
“It is understood that ‘some’ Brazilians are entering the country under the pretext of vacation or looking for supposed legal business opportunities BUT with the intention of illegally harvesting Guyana’s gold. Very often these illegal activities of foreigners are aided and abetted by our own GUYANESE citizens,” Iwokrama said.
Iwokrama called on border control services and community partners to remain vigilant, particularly with respect to persons travelling through parts of the country with boats, dredges and mining equipment loaded on pick-up trucks or other vehicles without the required mining permits.
Further, it also reiterated that gold mining activities are absolutely prohibited in the Iwokrama Forest, as clearly outlined under the Iwokrama Act of 1996, which provides for penalties in cases of violations. It warned that such illegal activities pose an imminent threat to Guyana’s ecological integrity, disrupt local livelihoods and traditional practices, and undermine national forestry and protected areas management systems.
Iwokrama cautioned that continued illegal mining could jeopardise Iwokrama’s international certification and, by extension, negatively impact the country’s wider Protected Areas System and Guyana’s Green agenda. It emphasised that collaboration remains critical in addressing illegal mining and expressed appreciation for the continued support from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Police Force, the Protected Areas Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Notably, the Iwokrama International Centre was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the 371,000-hectare Iwokrama Forest in a manner intended to deliver lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to Guyana and the global community. The Centre, guided by an international Board of Trustees, is unique providing a dedicated well managed and researched forest environment. The forest is zoned into a Sustainable Utilization Area (SUA) and a Wilderness Preserve (WP) in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing.
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- Cristhian Jose Cedero, Edwardo De Souza Braz, GGMC, gold, illegal gold mining, Iwokrama Protected Area, Rondiney Barbosa Periera
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