(Kaieteur News) – Some 40 persons have been convicted following a joint services operation carried out in the Iwokrama Protected Reserve between June 13 and June 14, with several Venezuelan nationals ordered deported after pleading guilty to illegally entering Guyana.

The defendants appeared virtually before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where they faced charges of with illegal entry, contrary to Section 34(1)(b) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 14:02, and illegal mining, contrary to Section 14(1)(a)(i) of the Mining Act, Chapter 65:01.

Five Venezuelan nationals pleaded guilty to both illegal entry and illegal mining. Those persons are: Luiz Angle, Carlos Alberto Lezama Rivas, Oliver Jesus Urdaneta, Anabel Bolívar Flores and Daysmair Jaramillo Carrillo. Two other Venezuelan nationals, Abigail Hernandez and Dilmarita Figueroa Martines, pleaded guilty to illegal entry.