Gbankonah, Bong County — Authorities in Bong County say more than a dozen Burkinabé nationals are on the run following the discovery of a hazardous and illegal mining operation in the Gbankonah area of District 4.
The bust followed an unannounced inspection by a joint task force comprising Bong County Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris, County Attorney Jonathan Flomo, officers of the Liberia National Police, and other local stakeholders. The operation, conducted on Monday, led to the arrest of at least two foreign nationals, including an alleged ringleader identified as Bassirod Sore, now in custody at the Gbarnga Central Police Station.
Superintendent Norris said the suspects fled the scene as authorities approached, abandoning equipment and chemicals used in the illicit gold extraction process. She described the site as hastily constructed and operating under “extremely unsafe” conditions.
“What we saw was alarming,” Norris told reporters at a press conference in Gbarnga. “The chemicals being used are dangerous — they can paralyze or even kill. We cannot allow this to continue just because someone wants to make quick money.”
More than a dozen others reportedly escaped through nearby bushland before police could apprehend them. Authorities confirmed that several pieces of equipment — including industrial water pumps and batteries — were seized at the scene.
Norris said the county is launching robust security measures to evacuate and prevent the return of illegal miners. She also issued a stern warning to any Liberians aiding foreign nationals involved in illegal mining.
“If any Liberian is supporting these activities for a small amount of money at the expense of their own people, we will not tolerate it,” she said. “This is life-threatening. We are not joking.”
The superintendent also criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to attend the site visit and called for its immediate involvement in an environmental impact assessment of the area.
County Attorney Flomo, who accompanied Norris on the inspection, confirmed that one of the arrested suspects was found with an official Burkinabé passport, now in the hands of immigration authorities. Flomo disclosed that immigration records show at least 12 Burkinabés entered Liberia legally under the pretext of farming, but investigations suggest otherwise.
“Our findings indicate this was not farming,” Flomo said. “This was a sophisticated illegal mining operation, and the number of people involved could be far greater than we initially believed.”
He also stressed the environmental and public health risks posed by the unregulated use of chemicals, adding that contamination of local water sources is a growing concern.
Authorities suspect the mining operation was carried out in collusion with some Liberians and emphasized the broader economic threat posed by such activities, including loss of government revenue and degradation of protected land.
Norris and Flomo called for a full-scale investigation by the Liberia National Police, the EPA, and other relevant agencies. They also urged media and civil society groups to visit the site and help raise awareness of the dangers involved.
“This is about protecting our people, our land, and our future,” Norris said. “We are taking this seriously, and we will hold everyone involved accountable.”
This is a developing story. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.
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