Guyana to crack down on gold smuggled in from Venezuela at the urging of the US government

GEORGETOWN Guyana AP Guyana has pledged to crack down on gold smuggled across the margin from neighboring Venezuela at the urging of the U S administration President Irfaan Ali stated late Friday that the governing body of the South American country is dedicating enormous tools to thwart the smuggling which has long been a trouble He commented officers have increased territory line patrols and improved monitoring in mining regions Local administrators have disclosed they suspect that Venezuelan-sanctioned gold is being mixed with gold mined in Guyana and then passed off as local production and sold to markets in the U S Canada the Middle East and elsewhere In the Royal Canadian Mint suspended gold purchases from a major export company in Guyana because functionaries suspected particular shipments had been mixed with Venezuelan gold an allegation the company denied Meanwhile the U S Embassy in Guyana has suspended the visas of several miners suspected of smuggling Venezuelan gold overseas Gold is Guyana s second greater part crucial export after oil generating nearly billion last year Particular ounces of gold were produced last year up from ounces the previous year according to the Ministry of Natural Tools It noted that up to of local gold production is smuggled out of Guyana U S Ambassador Nicole Theriot on Friday praised Guyana s cooperation noting that the countries have worked together to secure Guyana s perimeter with Venezuela Relations between the two South American neighbors remain tense given a bitter dispute over the Essequibo region which Venezuela has long claimed as its own It represents two-thirds of Guyana and is rich in gold diamonds timber and other natural tools It also is located close to massive offshore oil deposits with current production averaging chosen barrels daily Source