GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Police have detained four people, including three foreign nationals after successfully intercepting an alleged gold smuggling operation in Guyana.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) said that two Brazilians, a Cuban and a Guyanese national were arrested on Thursday as part of a major probe into a gold smuggling operation.

SOCU did not indicate where the operation took place but said that based on credible intelligence, the operation was launched and the four were with a large quantity of gold valued at over GUY$30 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) and over GUY$31 million in cash. SOCU said that officers also confiscated a quantity of electronic equipment and that the bust is a significant breakthrough in the fight against illicit gold smuggling.

According to the head of SOCU, Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, the SOCU officers were able to disrupt the smuggling operation before the gold could be moved.

He warned gold smugglers to “stop this illicit activity or they will face the full force of the law”.

The latest crackdown follows a similar exercise on March 5, 2025, when two people were arrested.

“The Government of Guyana remains resolute in its mission to combat illicit gold smuggling and dismantle networks involved in these illegal activities. Officials continue to monitor and enforce strict measures to hold offenders accountable and prevent further economic losses to the country,” the SOCU release noted.