On Tuesday, 19 Venezuelans appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, facing charges linked to the illegal exploitation of resources in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The 19 accused – Raynes Gomez, Jose Francisco Rivas Quidada, Ozar Marcano, Jonathan Trujillo, Luis Angentes, Jose Mata Mata, Denny Rafael Salazar, Davwin Mata Salazar, Edward Jose, Cruz Manuel Deven, Marcano Milian Lopez, Gregorio Antonio, Emanuel Marcano, Ronaldo Thomas, Jesus Harry, Alexandro Fernandes, Johandre Martin, Edgar Fernandes, and Romel Fernandes – are alleged to have engaged in unauthorised activities at sea.
Prosecutors stated that between August 20 and September 5, the defendants were involved in resource extraction approximately 82 miles off the coast of Guyana. They allegedly conducted this operation without a valid licence, a violation of Guyana’s laws governing its EEZ. Adding to the charges, the group is accused of entering Guyana’s coastal waters aboard an unregistered vessel, further exacerbating their legal predicament.
