Chinese woman, part of a gold smuggling ring, charged for overstaying in Guyana

Zhong Jin Ziang, a 34-year-old female of Chinese descent and a Customer Representative at Muneshwers Travel Service, was charged on Thursday with the offence of ‘Overstaying of Person in Guyana’.

She was arrested on July 15 during the course of an investigation into a major money laundering and gold smuggling operation in Guyana.

She appeared at the Grove/Diamond Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Judy Latchman. She pleaded not guilty and was placed on $60,000 bail. The case was transferred to the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on 2024/08/14.

The charge stemmed from an ongoing investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to money laundering and gold smuggling operations within and out of Guyana, allegedly involving Chinese Nationals.

During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Zhong Jin Ziang entered Guyana from Suriname on 7th September 2023, and on her arrival at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport Ogle, she was issued a visitor’s visa and granted one month stay in the country.

However, she started working at Muneshwer’s Travel Service and overstayed her time in Guyana, hence the charge. Investigations are continuing into the money laundering and gold smuggling operations by the Special Organised Crime Unit.