In a recent enforcement crackdown on unregulated mining activity, Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources announced Monday night that two individuals suspected of illicit gold trading have been taken into custody at Tamakay Landing, located in the country’s Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni). The joint operation, carried out on September 28 by the enforcement division of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, not only netted the two suspects but also resulted in the seizure of 6 million Guyanese dollars, approximately two ounces of unlicensed gold, and an array of unspecified specialized trading equipment. As a direct consequence of the violations uncovered during the inspection, the retail gold shop operating out of Tamakay Landing in the Mazaruni mining district has had all its operational activities suspended pending further investigation. Ministry officials confirmed in an official statement that the site was found to be actively buying and selling gold without holding the mandatory government approvals and operating licenses required for participation in Guyana’s regulated gold sector. Following the arrest, the two suspects were transferred to local police custody for further processing and legal proceedings. In the statement, the Ministry emphasized that this latest enforcement action is just one component of its sustained, nationwide campaign to eliminate illegal mining and all associated illicit activities that undermine the regulated sector. Monitoring and enforcement operations will remain active across every mining district in the country, as authorities work to curb unregulated activity that deprives the nation of tax revenue and weakines regulatory oversight of the critical mining industry. The Ministry closed its statement by issuing a formal call to all industry stakeholders, from small-scale traders to large mining operators, to proactively verify that their operations fully comply with all existing national laws and mandatory licensing requirements governing Guyana’s mining sector, warning that additional enforcement actions will continue in the coming months.