Monrovia -Liberia November 1, 2026.
The Liberian government says it has arrested nearly a dozen people in an operation targeting illegal dredge mining in Gonelor Town, Grand Cape Mount County.
The operation was conducted by the Presidential Task Force, known as Protect Our Resources Task Force, or PORT, following an earlier enforcement exercise by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The Ministry says its field personnel came under attack during the initial operation in mid-October, resulting in the destruction of government vehicles, the confiscation of a motorbike and the seizure of communication devices.
The Presidential Task Force, headed by Colonel Abraham Kromah, subsequently deployed to the area, where it arrested several suspected illegal miners and confiscated equipment used in unauthorized dredging operations.
Those arrested include the female Town Chief of Gonelor, who is now undergoing investigation alongside the other suspects.
Authorities say the investigation is intended to establish the extent of their involvement in illegal mining and determine how they allegedly bypassed the country’s mining laws and regulations.
Colonel Kromah has described the operation as a tip of the iceberg, warning that the task force will intensify its nationwide crackdown on illegal mining.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with personnel from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The Ministry says it will continue to enforce Liberia’s Minerals and Mining Law through compliance monitoring, security interventions and coordinated enforcement operations.
It has also called on residents, traditional authorities and other stakeholders in mining communities to cooperate with government institutions and refrain from obstructing lawful enforcement activities.
The government says the protection of Liberia’s mineral resources remains a national priority.
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