The Ministry of Mines and Energy has confirmed the arrest of two Indian nationals and a Liberian in Grand Cape Mount County for alleged illegal mining activities, as part of a nationwide crackdown on illicit mineral exploitation and non-compliant operators across Liberia.
The arrests form part of intensified enforcement actions announced by the Minister of Mines and Energy, R. Matenokay Tingban, who said the government is no longer tolerating illegal mining operations that damage the environment and deprive Liberia of revenue from its natural resources.
“If you think Liberia has been an open gate before, Liberia is no longer an open gate,” Minister Tingban declared during a briefing on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. “Yesterday is not today. Today is a different era in our mineral governance. Anyone who believes they can destroy our environment, take away our minerals, and walk free will be mistaken.”
According to the Minister, the individuals arrested in Grand Cape Mount were found operating without any mining authorization from the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Authorities also impounded three excavators allegedly used in the illegal operations.
“They had no trace of legal documents,” Tingban said. “They simply deployed machinery, destroyed the environment, and believed they could take Liberia’s minerals without accountability.”
He disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed severe environmental destruction at the site, with no evidence of land reclamation efforts or compliance with Liberia’s mining regulations.
The Ministry further noted that the arrests are part of broader enforcement operations being carried out in several parts of the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and state security agencies.
Minister Tingban emphasized that all mining operators are required to comply with the Minerals and Mining Law of 2000 and existing mining regulations, including proper reporting of excavation and mineral recovery activities.
“The Ministry is reporting every step we are taking because we want to operate within the confines of the law,” he stated. “If operators fail to properly account for the minerals recovered, the Ministry of Justice will become fully involved.”
Beyond Grand Cape Mount, the Ministry revealed a series of additional enforcement actions across the country targeting illegal mining activities.
In Grand Gedeh County, authorities issued a closure order against Alex Gee Group of Companies in Belle-Yallah after discovering that the company’s Class “B” mining license had expired without renewal for the 2025/2026 period. The company was also accused of constructing a mineral processing plant outside its licensed scope of operations.
On April 22, 2026, enforcement officers dismantled an illegal mining site in Gbayea Town, Tchien District, allegedly operated by several Chinese nationals who fled before authorities arrived. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved.
In another operation, the Ministry destroyed dredging equipment used for illegal gold mining along the Cavalla River, warning that such activities contribute to mercury pollution and pose serious environmental and health risks to nearby communities.
Meanwhile, Bounteous Mining Company in Ghana Camp, Konobo District, was shut down for allegedly operating with incomplete documentation, while JinXin Mining Company in Rivercess County was also ordered closed on April 18, 2026, for mining without a valid license and for encroaching on an area licensed to Cheng Mining Company.
The Ministry also confirmed the arrest of an alleged illegal miner identified as Mark Polo in Voinjama, Lofa County, during an operation targeting dredge mining on the Lofa River. Authorities said the suspect allegedly attacked a mining agent with machetes and a firearm after refusing to halt operations.
Minister Tingban warned that all individuals and entities involved in illegal mining—whether Liberian or foreign nationals—will face arrest and prosecution under Liberian law.
“The Ministry will not tolerate violations of the Minerals and Mining Law,” he said. “No illicit miner will progress in exploiting Liberia’s minerals outside the law.”
He further disclosed that the Ministry is intensifying nationwide awareness and sensitization campaigns to educate communities on responsible mining practices and compliance requirements, including recent outreach activities in Penokan Village, Grand Gedeh County.
Closing his remarks, the Minister called on citizens to report illegal mining activities, stressing that Liberia’s mineral wealth must be protected for national development.
“We are taking these illegal mining practices very seriously,” Tingban said. “Liberia’s mineral wealth must contribute to national development and not be smuggled out while our people continue to struggle.”
