GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) -- Guyana's mining minister says he plans to hire dozens of new inspectors to curb illegal activity prompted by a boom in the South American country's gold mining industry.
Robert Persaud said Wednesday that mining companies are increasingly bribing officers to avoid having to keep accurate production records, hire legal workers and report true amounts of gold sold to a state-run board.
The announcement comes a week after Persaud said he believes up to half of Guyana's national gold production is being smuggled overseas. Miners last year sold 363,000 troy ounces to the state board.
Guyana has roughly 800 small- and medium-size mining operations. Gold is one of its main exports.
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