Nearly 200 arrests were made and large quantities of cash, gold, mercury, firearms and drugs were seized during a landmark cross-border operation targeting illegal gold mining across northern South America, with significant enforcement action carried out in Guyana.
The enforcement action formed part of Operation Guyana Shield, the first-ever transnational operation involving police and prosecutors from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname to combat illegal gold mining.
Operation Guyana Shield, carried out in December 2025, was led jointly by Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and, with support from EL PACCTO 2.0, the European Union’s cooperation programme against transnational organized crime, INTERPOL, and the Dutch Police High Impact Environmental Crime team.
The cross-border operation involved over 24,500 checks on vehicles and individuals and led to 198 arrests, INTERPOL revealed in a statement.
Authorities in Guyana detained three men on suspicion of gold smuggling and money laundering after discovering unprocessed gold and US$590,000 in cash in their possession.
According to INTERPOL, investigators allege the suspects are members of a major organized crime group, with possible links to a leading Guyanese gold-exporting firm.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of mercury in Guyana and Suriname valued at over US$60,000. Mercury, commonly used in illegal gold mining to separate gold from other metals, poses severe risks to human health and the environment. The cylinders were being transported by bus and concealed inside solar panels, INTERPOL said.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said the sharp rise in global gold prices has fueled a surge in illegal mining activity, making it one of the fastest-growing revenue streams for organised crime groups in Latin America.
“At INTERPOL, we are committed to working with our partners to disrupt those networks and prevent more damage to this remote and environmentally fragile region,” Urquiza said.
The operation also included intensified patrols along remote border areas through coordinated “mirror operations.”
Officers from Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname conducted simultaneous checks on opposite banks of the Oyapock and Maroni rivers, key transit routes for illegal mining supplies and smuggled goods. Inspections of riverside shops linked to mining activities led to the seizure of counterfeit medicines, alcohol and cigarettes worth over US$40,000.
Across the four countries, police confiscated mining equipment such as pumps and gold-trapping mats, along with firearms and communication devices. Officers also intercepted a bus transporting undocumented migrants, including several minors suspected of being exploited for child labour or sexual abuse.
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