Historic four-nation amazon crackdown nets nearly 200 arrests in fight against illegal gold mining

In a groundbreaking enforcement action, police from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname joined forces for their first-ever cross-border operation against illegal gold mining in the Amazon, resulting in nearly 200 arrests. The December operation, supported by Interpol, the European Union, and Dutch environmental crime specialists, represents a major escalation in the fight against one of the Amazon’s most destructive criminal enterprises.

The sweeping investigation involved more than 24,500 checks across remote border regions, leading to significant seizures of cash, unprocessed gold, mercury, firearms, drugs, and mining equipment. Among the most notable arrests were three suspects in Guyana charged with gold smuggling and money laundering, caught with unprocessed gold and approximately $590,000 in cash. Investigators believe these individuals are connected to an organized crime network with potential ties to a major Guuyanese gold exporting company.

Illegal gold mining has emerged as a primary threat to Amazon ecosystems, driving widespread deforestation and contaminating rivers with toxic mercury that poisons waterways relied upon by Indigenous communities. The criminal activity has surged in recent years as gold prices reached near-record highs, pushing miners deeper into pristine forest areas and transforming gold into one of the most lucrative commodities for transnational organized crime.

“Illegal gold mining is growing rapidly and causing serious harm to the environment and local communities, especially in remote and fragile areas,” said Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect the world’s largest rainforest.