The Liberian government has arrested nearly a dozen people, including the town chief of Gonelor, in a crackdown on illegal dredge mining in Grand Cape Mount County.
The arrests were made by the Presidential Task Force, known as the Protect Our Resources Task Force (PORT), during an enforcement operation in Gonelor Town aimed at dismantling unauthorised mining activities and seizing equipment used for illegal dredging.
The operation followed an earlier enforcement exercise by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in mid-October, during which government mining officers reportedly came under attack from some residents.
According to the Ministry, the earlier incident resulted in the destruction of government enforcement vehicles, the seizure of a motorbike and the confiscation of communication devices belonging to the officers.
The Presidential Task Force, led by Colonel Abraham Kromah, subsequently moved into the community, where it confirmed the presence of illegal mining operators, arrested the suspects and confiscated equipment used in the operations.
Those arrested, including the female town chief, are undergoing investigations to establish their alleged involvement in unauthorised mineral extraction and possible violations of Liberia’s Minerals and Mining Law.
PORT Chairman Colonel Kromah described the operation as “a tip of the iceberg”, saying the task force would pursue its nationwide mandate under Executive Order No. 167 to tackle illegal mining and protect the country’s mineral resources.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy said it would continue compliance monitoring and coordinated enforcement operations against individuals and companies operating without the required authorisation.
