Armed bandits escape with over $44M in gold, cash from Region Seven mining camps

Police are investigating a brazen armed robbery at two mining operations in Sewanda Backdam, Region Seven, that left two Brazilian miners relieved of more than $44 million in gold, cash and valuables.

The robbery occurred on Monday, June 15, between 10:00 hrs and 17:30 hrs, when four masked men, reportedly armed with firearms, targeted the mining camps located about 200 metres apart.

According to preliminary investigations, the suspects first entered one operation where a 44-year-old Brazilian miner and his workers were conducting mining activities. The armed men reportedly held the workers at gunpoint and ordered them to complete the wash-down process before stealing 15 ounces of raw gold, $150,000 in cash and a red ATV. The stolen items were valued at approximately $15.4 million.

The bandits then moved to a nearby mining operation owned by a 50-year-old Brazilian national. There, they allegedly held the miner and his workers at gunpoint and similarly demanded that the wash-down process be completed.

The suspects escaped with 30 ounces of raw gold, a 20-pennyweight gold chain, a 20-pennyweight gold band, a six-pennyweight gold ring, a red ATV motorcycle and $300,000 in cash. The stolen items were valued at about $29.3 million.

Police said the men also took a quantity of clothing, groceries and internet equipment before fleeing the area.

During the ordeal, the 50-year-old miner was allegedly assaulted and sustained injuries.

Investigators later recovered the two stolen ATVs abandoned near the Puruni River.

The suspects remain at large and police investigations are ongoing.