Top officials of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) say that more criminal syndicates in the Americas are turning to illegal gold mining to move and hide profits generated from the cocaine trade.
Over 80 senior law enforcement officials have gathered in Guyana for the 27th INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference to address some of the most pressing organised crime threats facing the region.
Held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the two-day event will examine emerging criminal trends, share operational experiences and identify practical solutions to tackle transnational crime affecting communities throughout the Americas.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, INTERPOL’s Secretary General (SG) Valdecy Urquiza revealed that one such trend that they are already following is the movement of drug profits through illegal gold mining activities in the region.
“Cocaine remains the financial lifeblood of groups across Central and South America. Yet, the very scale of these drug trade creates a massive problem for cartels – how to move, hide and clean illicit cash. A growing number of syndicates are solving this by moving their drug capitals straight into illegal gold mining,” Urquiza stated.
According to the INTERPOL SG, this practice led to the conduct of Operation Guiana Shield in December 2025 – the first ever transnational operation to combat illegal gold mining.
Involving Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname, this coordinated cross-border law enforcement crackdown targeted illegal gold mining, environmental crimes, and associated transnational organised crime.
President of INTERPOL, Lucas Philippe, dubbed the joint operation as highly successful.
“Not only did officers find gold, but they also seized firearms, cash, drugs, mercury and mining equipment, thus uncovering a much wider criminal eco-system. INTERPOL is adapting to this new normal,” the INTERPOL Chief declared during the conference opening on Wednesday.
Back in January, INTERPOL reported that Operation Guiana Shield saw over 24,500 checks on vehicles and individuals, leading to some 198 arrests.
As part of the exercise, Guyanese authorities detained three men on suspicion of gold smuggling and money laundering after discovering unprocessed gold and US$590,000 in cash.
INTERPOL had linked these suspects to a major organised crime group with possible connections to a leading Guyanese gold-exporting firm.
At the time, the INTERPOL SG had stated that the surge in international gold prices in recent years has resulted in increased illegal gold mining, thus making it the fastest-growing revenue stream for organised crime groups, including in Latin America.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips noted that Operation Guiana Shield, as well as many other collaborative initiatives, shows that criminal activities spanning borders can be confronted when authorities act as one.
“These cases demonstrate the value of cooperation, but they also reveal where the system remains vulnerable. Intelligence cannot protect the public when it fails to reach the official required to act upon it. Nor can modern technology correct delays caused by uncertain authority or poor coordination.
International information must, therefore, reach the frontline in time to influence an investigation subject to the laws and safeguards that preserve public confidence,” the PM noted.
Phillips, who is performing duties as acting President of Guyana, went on to outline efforts by the Government to build local capacity as it relates to intelligence-led policing. Similarly, he cited investments being made to enhance inter-agency communications among local law enforcement agencies.
These efforts, according to the Prime Minister, will be the foundation for regional collaboration and coordination.
“Guyana therefore approaches this conference with a practical purpose: We seek an intelligence system in which reliable information can be exchanged without unnecessary delay and converted into lawful operational action. We also seek continued access to the technology and expertise required to investigate crimes whose methods are changing rapidly,” he noted.
Noting that delays can shift the advantage to criminals and place justice further out of reach for law enforcers, the PM argued that cooperation must be as swift as the threat. INTERPOL, he noted, provides the tools through which such cooperation can be achieved.
Moreover, PM Phillips, a former army Chief in Guyana, further noted that any agreement arrived upon during the two-day conference in Georgetown must eventually lead to a timelier response when information is requested and a clear course of action when investigations cross a border.
“The professional relationships formed here should remain active after the conference, particularly when an urgent case requires assistance from another jurisdiction. This is especially important for the Caribbean, where our jurisdictions are comparatively small, but the criminal networks operating among them are well-financed and able to move quickly.”
“Closer coordination with INTERPOL would give border officials earlier warning of persons and activities of concern, while allowing investigators to recognise connections that may not be visible within a single country. Such cooperation would also narrow the space in which organised crime currently operates,” the PM stated.
With INTERPOL’s second Global Financial Fraud Assessment Report highlighting that between 2024 and 2025 fraud-related global alerts across the Americas and the Caribbean increased by 40 per cent, tackling financial crime is high on the agenda during the two-day conference in Georgetown.
Combating money laundering, the increasing misuse of cryptocurrencies by organised crime groups and experiences in tracking, tracing and recovering criminal assets will be key areas for discussion.
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