A Cuban national, identified as Yosbani Suárez Areces, aged 49, was fined and deported from Guyana on April 1st after pleading guilty to illegally entering the country, according to the Guyanese Police.
Suárez Areces, who resides in Boa Vista, Roraima state in Brazil, appeared virtually before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Mahdia Magistrates' Court. He was accompanied by four Brazilian citizens also charged with the same offense, as reported by local media.
The other four individuals were Samuel Dionisa Soares, 24; Rafael Da Conceicao Viera, 30; Deusimar Feitosa Dos Santos, 53, all workers from Boa Vista; and Berto Dasena, a laborer from Marau, Brazil.
They all admitted to crossing a land border without reporting to the nearest immigration officer, violating Section 34(1)(b) of the Guyana Immigration Act, Chapter 14:02.
Each was fined 30,000 Guyanese dollars or faced six weeks in jail if they failed to pay. They were also ordered to leave the country within 24 hours.
The fact that Suárez Areces lived in Boa Vista—a common destination for Cubans traveling through Guyana to Brazil—and was caught attempting to enter from Brazil suggests the group was crossing illegally from Brazilian territory, possibly linked to work activities in the border or mining areas.
Recent Arrests Highlight Guyana's Immigration Challenges
This case is part of a series of similar arrests in Guyana over recent weeks. On April 15th, two more Brazilians—Franscio Lopes, 47, and Junior Condrad, 32—were fined 30,000 Guyanese dollars each and immediately deported by Magistrate Omadatt Chandan at the Lethem Court after admitting to illegal entry by land.
Guyana serves as a crucial transit point on the migratory path used by thousands of Cubans to reach Brazil. Migrants typically fly to Georgetown, cross by land to Lethem, and from there, they reach Boa Vista, where they apply for refugee or residency documents.
In March 2025, another Cuban, Yosmel Pérez Cisneros, 39, was sentenced to three years in prison in Guyana for illegally entering the country by sea, marking a significant shift from the previously standard deportations.
The Ministry of Natural Resources in Guyana has warned that law enforcement efforts remain active throughout the country: "Those who violate the law will face its full extent."
Understanding Guyana's Immigration Enforcement
What penalties do illegal entrants face in Guyana?
Illegal entrants may face fines and deportation. In some cases, failure to pay fines can result in imprisonment, as seen in recent cases where offenders were fined 30,000 Guyanese dollars or faced six weeks in jail.
Why is Guyana a key transit point for Cuban migrants?
Guyana serves as a critical stopover for Cubans migrating to Brazil. The typical route involves flying to Georgetown, traveling by land to Lethem, and then reaching Boa Vista in Brazil, where migrants seek refugee or residency status.