The price which has fluctuated between USD 5,558 and USD 4,165 per ounce in the past couple of months have made armed gangs that operate in the hinterland more ruthless and more violent. “The price of gold is already at USD 150 per gram and that makes the fields where people search for gold a very dangerous place to be at the moment,” said Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath. The situation has become volatile in the south eastern part of the country where prospectors’ villages such as Antonio do Brinco are located. Of course settlements such as Peruano and Benzdorp are also prone to attacks by armed robbers. All of these locations have one thing in common and that is the limited presence of authority. A group of Brazilian gunmen is currently terrorizing these villages and settlements. The authorities are working tirelessly to identify the perpetrators so that they can be caught. Minister Monorath explained that the limited accessibility of these remote locations and the shortage of manpower is making it difficult to tackle crime. Officials have therefore opted for an operation that will be carried out in phases.