Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – An international operation spearheaded by INTERPOL has led to the arrest of over 200 individuals involved in illegal mining across Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal. Named Operation Sanu, the initiative, which ran from July to October 2024, marked a major breakthrough in combating illegal mining and associated crimes in the region.
In The Gambia, the operation focused on illegal sand mining, a first for the country in this type of coordinated law enforcement action. Raids in the Kombo and south coastal belt regions resulted in the arrest of seven individuals and the seizure of trucks loaded with sand and gravel, along with mining equipment. The authorities noted that illegal sand mining has reached unprecedented levels in recent years, posing severe environmental risks and undermining the livelihoods of local communities.
“This operation allowed us to better understand how illegal sand mining is organized in The Gambia and its far-reaching impacts on our environment and economy,” said a senior Gambian law enforcement official involved in the operation.
Environmental and Economic Impacts
While illegal gold mining was the central focus of Operation Sanu, its Gambian component highlighted the growing threat posed by sand mining to coastal ecosystems. Sand mining accelerates coastal erosion, disrupts habitats, and threatens key tourism and fishing industries. The Gambian government has expressed its commitment to addressing the issue, recognizing its potential to undermine sustainable development goals.
The broader operation revealed the devastating consequences of illegal mining across the region, including deforestation, landslides, and disruptions to river flows that have caused both droughts and floods. These environmental crises exacerbate vulnerabilities in communities already struggling with poverty and limited resources.
Significant Seizures Across Borders
In addition to the arrests, Operation Sanu resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of chemicals and equipment used in illegal gold mining, including 150 kilograms of cyanide, 325 kilograms of activated charcoal, and 14 cylinders of mercury, with an estimated value exceeding $100,000. Law enforcement also confiscated 10 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 7,000 explosive devices, underscoring the transnational criminal networks fueling illegal mining.
The operation also uncovered a disturbing trend: miners’ reliance on opioid pain relief tablets to cope with the toxic effects of mercury and cyanide exposure. These substances not only harm human health but also contaminate ecosystems, further compounding the damage caused by illegal mining.
A Model for Regional Collaboration
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza praised the operation’s success, emphasizing the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling transnational crimes.
“Transnational criminal networks exploit mineral resources around the world, harming the environment, hurting national economies, weakening fragile communities, and endangering public health and safety. The operation’s success highlights the effectiveness of law enforcement when they join forces to tackle these threats,” Urquiza said.
Senegal, Guinea, and Burkina Faso also played critical roles in the operation, contributing to a coordinated effort that underscored the shared responsibility of nations in addressing illegal mining. In Senegal, authorities uncovered extensive gold mining operations linked to criminal enterprises, while Guinea focused on disrupting illegal supply chains.
A Pilot for Future Interventions
Operation Sanu was part of a pilot project funded by the United Kingdom’s Home Office through INTERPOL’s Environmental Security Programme. It provided law enforcement agencies with valuable insights into the structure of illegal mining networks and their broader implications for public safety, economies, and ecosystems.
The operation’s success in The Gambia and beyond is expected to serve as a model for future interventions, with authorities pledging to strengthen their efforts to combat illegal mining and its far-reaching consequences.
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