In a coordinated four-country operation targeting illegal mining in West Africa, Interpol and local law enforcement arrested 200 people and seized chemicals, explosives, drugs, and pain relief medication used by illegal miners.
Operation Sanu, conducted in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea, and Senegal between July and October 2024, brought together experts from Interpol and national law enforcement agencies to combat illegal mining and associated crimes, Interpol said Tuesday in a statement.
The cross-border collaboration led to the seizure of significant amounts of chemicals and equipment used in illegal mining. Investigators confiscated 150 kilograms of cyanide, 325 kilograms of active charcoal, 14 cylinders of mercury valued at more than $100,000, 20 liters of nitrite acid, and two 57-liter containers of sulfuric acid. Authorities also seized 10 kilograms of cocaine and nearly 7,000 explosive devices.
The operation revealed that miners in the region commonly use opioid pain relief tablets to manage pain caused by exposure to toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide, which are frequently used in illegal small-scale gold mining. These chemicals are highly toxic and can severely damage the human nervous system.
Though the operation’s primary focus was illegal gold mining, it also targeted illegal sand mining in The Gambia. This led to seven arrests and the seizure of mining equipment and trucks loaded with sand and gravel.
Interpol noted that illegal sand mining has reached unprecedented levels in recent years, posing major threats to the environment and the livelihoods of local communities. It stressed that the operation offered new insights into the wider damage caused by illegal mining in the region, including deforestation, landslides, and the alteration of river flows that can result in drought or flooding. The organization also highlighted the economic and social harm inflicted on communities by these activities.
“Transnational criminal networks exploit mineral resources around the world, harming the environment, hurting national economies, weakening fragile communities, and endangering public health and safety,” Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said.
A 2023 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) emphasized the growing demand for sand, the second most used resource on Earth after water. More than 50 billion tons of sand are extracted annually, often from rivers and coastlines. The construction industry is the largest consumer, with urbanization and population growth driving skyrocketing demand.
