Operation Anaconda (Guyana)

 'Anaconda operations'  are operations of the French National Gendarmerie conducted in Guyana against clandestine artisanal gold mining sites between 2002 and 2008 ] gold panning in Guyana).

These operations consist, for the gendarmerie nationale française, to locate in helicopter clandestine gold panning sites, then to intervene immediately to destroy the engines pumps or generators essential for gold washing.

The goal is to make the exploitation of gold unprofitable and thus discourage future miners.

Results
In 2005, the balance sheet of Anaconda transactions is as follows:
 * 107 operations (22 in 2002, 37 in 2003 and 73 in 2004),
 * 1252 foreigners in an irregular situation arrested,
 * Destruction of 300 motor pumps, 80 generators, 130 canoes and 30 vehicles (estimated value of EUR 20 million [by the authorities]),
 * confiscation of mercury.

A clandestine goldsmith (garimpeiro) reports : "until early 2005, the bosses of Oiapoque who finance illegal sites in French Guiana, were always credit on the equipment. Today is over. "

Nevertheless, the results of these operations are generally considered insufficient in relation to the scale of the problem. One of the causes of this deficiency is attributable to the lack of means of helicopter transportation.

On January 7, 2006, on the Mana, the adjutant of  gendarmerie Alain Claverie, commander of the  gendarmerie brigade of [ [Mana (Guyana) | Mana]] is killed as a result of a voluntary capsizing maneuver by an individual arrested as a result of a clandestine immigration control operation.

In 2008, the means were reinforced: the armed forces ( Earth and Air, mainly) contribute to the new operation called [ [Operation Harpie | Harpie]].