 Around 1974, the population of the village shrunk to about 10 inhabitants.More recently, gold seekers have returned to the village, including a relatively large number of "garimpeiros" (Brazilian gold miners), and it became a gold extraction area since the early 1990s.The "garimpeiros" and "gowtuman" (Surinamese gold miners) moved inland, founding a new village referred to as Benzdorp, though it is kilometers away from the original village Benz founded on the banks of the Lawa River (which is now called "the landing").