4 Nations Arrest 200 in First Amazon Gold Mining Crackdown

Police from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname made history in December by joining forces to tackle illegal gold mining that's been devastating the Amazon for years.

The groundbreaking operation led to nearly 200 arrests across remote border regions. Officers conducted more than 24,500 checks on vehicles and people, seizing unprocessed gold, cash, mercury, firearms, drugs, and mining equipment.

Among the biggest wins was the arrest of three suspected gold smugglers in Guyana, where police found unprocessed gold and about $590,000 in cash. Investigators believe the suspects are part of an organized crime network with possible ties to a major gold exporting company.

The operation, backed by Interpol and the European Union, targeted a problem that's been growing worse as gold prices hit near-record highs. Illegal mining operations have pushed deeper into the rainforest, poisoning rivers with toxic mercury and destroying lands that Indigenous communities depend on.

Officers seized mercury cylinders worth more than $60,000 that smugglers had hidden inside solar panels and transported by bus. The toxic metal is used to separate gold from other materials but contaminates rivers, wildlife, and people.

Police coordinated checks along shared borders, searching vehicles, boats, and riverside shops suspected of smuggling gold and mercury. The operation also uncovered counterfeit medicines, alcohol, and cigarettes worth over $40,000.

In one stop, officers found a bus carrying undocumented migrants, including several minors suspected of being victims of forced labor or sexual exploitation. The discovery highlighted how illegal mining networks harm not just the environment but vulnerable people too.

The Ripple Effect

Operation Guyana Shield marks a turning point for Amazon protection. For years, dense rainforest, vast distances, and porous borders made it nearly impossible for any single country to stop illegal mining operations that simply moved across borders to avoid law enforcement.

Now these four nations have shown that coordinated action works. The operation created a unified front against criminal networks that have profited from divided enforcement efforts.

The success sends a clear message to organized crime groups: the days of easily moving illegal operations across borders are ending.

Together, these countries are protecting Indigenous lands, saving rivers from mercury contamination, and preserving one of Earth's most vital ecosystems for future generations.