The work to combat illegal gold panning in Guyana carried out within the framework of Operation Harpy was not without its perils as far as certain “Karimbeiros” were concerned. [orpailleurs clandestins originaires du Brésil, ndlr] Feel free to fire on the French soldiers. Unfortunately, this was again the case during the operation against an illegal camp located in Dorlon sector. [région de Maripasoula].
Indeed, on March 25, the Ministry of Interior announced the death of a soldier from a branch of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group. [GIGN] From Cayenne. At the age of 35, Chief Marshal Arnaud Plank “fell under fire” during this mission. The non-commissioned officer posted to Guyana since 2009 is a father of two.
“Another daily hero who went to the end of his commitment. It’s terrible for everyone and we think a lot about his wife and his comrades,” responded General Christian Rodríguez, director of the National Gendarmerie. [DGGN].
According to the newspaper French Guiana, the facts “took place at the end of the night”, “during an exchange of fire at the Dorlin base in Maribasoula”. A critical device was placed hours earlier by the National Gendarmerie and Armed Forces in Guyana. [FAG]. “The culprit(s) are on the run now,” he said.
Deeply saddened to report this terrible news to our compatriots from French Guiana #GIGN And the whole family #Gendarmerie. In mainland France and abroad, we are all affected by this tragedy.#support To his family, relatives and friends. #I will protect you pic.twitter.com/1QT2mZa9I6
– Spokesperson of the National Gendarmerie (@PorteparoleGN) March 25, 2023
Despite the continued efforts of the FAG and the National Gendarmerie, the fight against illegal gold panning in Guyana is far from over. Efforts to make it possible to control this phenomenon… More than a thousand patrols were carried out by the army in 2022. During these, 35.8 million in criminal assets, 59 kg of mercury and 5 kg of gold were seized. This is a small fraction of what the Karimberos illegally extract each year. [les opérateurs miniers locaux parlent de 10 tonnes soustraites illégalement, ndlr]. Also, 6236 carpets, 100 crushers, 143 canoes, 135 weapons, 661 generators and 187 quads were also found in their hands.
In addition to the environmental damage caused by the use of mercury and cyanide, illegal gold panning has serious consequences for crime. [crimes de sang, prostitution, etc] This leaves local authorities in Guyana with a substantial deficit of €400 million a year.
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