Interpol has detained at least 200 individuals across four West African nations as part of an extensive crackdown on illegal mining activities, the international police organization announced on Tuesday.
The coordinated operations, dubbed “Sanu,” were conducted between June and October 2024 in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal.
Authorities confiscated significant quantities of chemicals and mining equipment, including 150 kilograms of cyanide, 325 kilograms of active charcoal, 14 cylinders of mercury valued at over $100,000, 20 liters of nitric acid, and two large containers of sulfuric acid. Additionally, investigators seized 10 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 7,000 explosive devices.
The operations highlighted the severe environmental damage caused by illegal mining, such as deforestation, landslides, drought, and flooding, Interpol noted.
“Transnational criminal networks exploit mineral resources globally, causing environmental destruction, undermining national economies, weakening vulnerable communities, and endangering public health and safety,” said Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza. “This operation demonstrates the power of collective law enforcement in addressing these challenges.”
While the primary focus was on illegal gold mining, authorities in The Gambia also targeted unlawful sand mining for the first time. Seven individuals were arrested, and mining equipment was seized.
The arrests underscore the growing concern over the environmental, social, and economic impacts of illegal mining activities in the region.