Facade of the Casa Amarilla in Caracas, headquarters of the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Xavier Granja Cedeño
Guacamaya, June 29, 2025. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela issued a statement this Saturday in response to declarations made by the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, who accused the Venezuelan government of being behind gold smuggling in the region. In the text, Ali is identified as the “true boss” of the mafia involved in the illegal extraction of gold and other minerals.
On Friday night, during an event at the United States Embassy in Georgetown, Ali stated that his government had reinforced border controls and police actions to combat the smuggling of precious metals. At the event, held as a preamble to the 249th anniversary of U.S. independence, Ali pointed to Venezuela as responsible for the illegal trafficking of gold into Guyana and other countries.
In the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry’s statement, Ali’s declarations were rejected with “absolute firmness,” and his accusations were also described as “bold and unfounded.” Furthermore, the Guyanese leader was labeled a “political subordinate” serving the United States and as the main person responsible for mineral smuggling.
“(…) Irfaan Ali made bold and unfounded accusations against the Venezuelan government, blatantly lying about a matter he knows well, since he is the true boss of the mafia involved in the illegal extraction of gold and minerals, which has caused accelerated destruction of the environment and life itself in a territory that does not belong to him,” the official text reads.
Additionally, the president of Guyana was accused of “leading a scheme to plunder oil in a sea pending delimitation,” an action constituting a violation of international law, according to the statement. In this same vein, the text referenced the historic controversy over the disputed Essequibo territory, which Venezuela claims as its own.
The opposing accusations have escalated in recent months, intensifying a bilateral relationship marked by distrust and diplomatic tensions. Conflicts around the border, resource exploitation in the disputed territory, mineral smuggling, and political and diplomatic affiliations have been the main points of confrontation.
