Guyana has suspended the mining licenses of over 100 Brazilian miners and threatened them with deportation, alleging that they failed to declare or sell their gold production to government-approved buyers. Authorities say many miners use powerful dredges in the Amazon and send gold back to Brazil, bypassing local laws and oversight. The Geology and Mines Commission has summoned permit holders to review their records, warning that non-compliance will result in suspended operations. This crackdown follows concerns about widespread gold smuggling, with studies indicating thousands of ounces are illicitly exported each week, and comes after recent sanctions against prominent Guyanese businessmen accused of large-scale gold smuggling.