Interpol cracks down on illegal mining in West Africa as police make 200 arrests

Source: AP

Updated 7:42 AM CST, January 14, 2025

PARIS (AP) — Interpol said Tuesday a major operation targeting illegal gold mining in West Africa has resulted in 200 arrests and the seizure of harmful chemicals, explosives and drugs.

The operation spanned Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea and Senegal, exposing extensive networks behind the illicit practice, which causes widespread environmental damage and poses serious health risks.

Highlighting the grim toll on miners, authorities uncovered large quantities of painkillers used to counter the harsh effects of toxic chemicals employed in gold extraction. Substances like mercury and cyanide, commonly used in small-scale mining, pose severe risks, with prolonged exposure leading to irreversible health damage.

Interpol, the France-based global policing agency with 195 member countries, coordinated the operation from July to October 2024 in cooperation with the U.K. Home Office.


Police officers and private security personnel stand by the opening of a reformed gold mineshaft where illegal miners are trapped in Stilfontein, South Africa, Friday, Nov.15, 2024. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File)

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