GBARNGA – The Liberia National Police Bong Detachment has charged and sent to court two Burkinabé nationals allegedly involved in illegal and hazardous mining operations in the Gbankonah area of District 4, Bong County.
At a press conference Tuesday evening, Bong County Crime Services Commander James Carto identified the suspects as Harouna Ouedraogo, 44, and Barchezu Sorie, 42. He said they were charged with economic sabotage, theft, criminal conspiracy, and other related crimes, and turned over to the court for prosecution.
“They are in the hands of the court. The court is expected to do the rest,” Carto said.
He also announced that several Liberians believed to have aided or harbored the illegal miners have been declared wanted and warned that they would face the full weight of the law.
Carto emphasized that the illegal mining operation was carried out with assistance from some Liberians and highlighted the broader economic and environmental dangers posed by such activities, including the loss of government revenue and destruction of protected land.
“Some citizens are involved and they will be brought to court for investigation,” he said. “The Burkinabés don’t know the area or the bushes. Someone must have aided them.”
The arrest of the two suspects followed a surprise raid by a joint task force comprising Bong County Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris, County Attorney Jonathan Flomo, LNP officers, and local stakeholders.
Officials say more suspects are on the run after fleeing the site moments before the authorities arrived. Carto urged residents of Gbankonah to provide information about the whereabouts of the remaining foreign nationals.
Superintendent Norris said the suspects fled the scene, leaving behind equipment and dangerous chemicals used in gold extraction. 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.”
Norris said the county was instituting heightened security measures to evacuate the area and prevent the return of illegal miners. She also issued a stern warning to Liberians aiding foreign nationals involved in illicit 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.”
Norris also criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for not participating in the site visit and called for its immediate involvement in conducting an environmental impact assessment.
County Attorney Flomo, who joined Norris during the inspection, confirmed that one of the arrested suspects was carrying an official Burkinabé passport, now in the custody of immigration authorities. He said immigration records show at least 12 Burkinabés entered Liberia legally, claiming to be farmers, 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 warned of the environmental and public health risks posed by unregulated chemical use at the site, adding that contamination of local water sources was becoming a major concern.
Norris and Flomo called for a full-scale investigation by the Liberia National Police, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant agencies. They also urged the media and civil society organizations to visit the site and raise awareness about 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.”
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